Pursuing new job opportunities is often a major life decision. Navigating the job market is stressful and complex, especially in the tech and engineering sectors, where skills quickly become redundant and the hiring process can be lengthy. To reduce your stress and ease the process, it’s important to approach job postings with a critical eye.
We’ve likely all seen job postings with obvious red flags, such as unrealistic requirements for entry-level positions. In other cases, the red flags may be more subtle. For example, job postings in the tech sector sometimes use language such as “guru”, “ninja”, “rockstar”, or “superhero” to describe the ideal candidate. While these terms may seem fun, trendy, and innocuous, all are terms primarily assigned to men. The word “ninja,” for example, specifically refers to male practitioners of ninjutsu (female practitioners are called “kunoichis”). Words like these might signal a company culture that doesn’t value diversity and inclusion.
Whether subtle or obvious, red flags can signal potential issues with the role, workplace, or employer. Catching those red flags early on can help you avoid wasting your time and energy on job applications that don’t align with your values, career goals, or professional standards.
Vague Or Overly Broad Job Descriptions
One of the most common red flags in job postings is a vague or overly broad description of responsibilities. For example, a job description stating that the successful candidate “must handle all technical tasks” without specifying those tasks presents a red flag. It might signal that the hiring team doesn’t understand the role or that the employer hasn’t fully defined the position’s responsibilities.
Both situations are concerning. Can a hiring team that doesn’t understand technical tasks competently choose the best candidate for the role? On the other hand, if the employer hasn’t fully defined the role before posting it, both the employer and the new hire might struggle to figure out the position’s duties and responsibilities, resulting in confusion, unrealistic expectations, or job dissatisfaction.
Two specific red flags to watch for regarding vague and overly broad job descriptions include:
- Those that don’t list specific duties or goals; and,
- Those that include multiple unrelated responsibilities (e.g., duties related to both software engineering and hardware design).
If a job posting interests you but has a vague or overly broad job description, consider asking the hiring manager or recruiter for more details. Once you have that information, you can decide whether to apply. If that information can’t be provided, you may want to reconsider your interest in the company.
Unrealistic Qualifications Or Expectations
Another major red flag is a listing of excessive qualifications. For example, a job posting might indicate a substantial amount of experience for an entry-level role or an overly wide skill set.
Some employers might list unrealistic qualifications in hopes of discouraging applications from underqualified applicants. On the other hand, by listing an overly wide skill set, an employer may be casting a wide net, hoping to locate candidates who have at least some of the skills. However, it’s also possible that the employer does indeed have unrealistic expectations. Whatever the reason, unrealistic expectations are definitely a red flag. As with vague and overly broad job descriptions, it might indicate that the employer doesn’t understand or hasn’t fully defined the role, which can lead to confusion and disappointment once a new hire is in place.
Unrealistic qualifications are usually easy to spot on a job description. But, two things to specifically look for include:
- An extensive list of qualifications, certifications, or programming languages unrelated to the main duties; and,
- A salary range that doesn’t reflect the qualifications listed.
If you meet the majority of the qualifications, and if the employer offers continuous learning opportunities to help you add the remainder of the skills to your toolbox while working, consider applying for the role, especially if the salary is a good fit for the role as described. But if the requirements seem unreasonably high, it may be a waste of your time to apply; or, if hired, it might leave you unhappy and dissatisfied with your job.
Buzzwords That Signal A High-Stress Environment
Phrases like, “must thrive in a fast-paced environment”, “must be able to wear multiple hats”, or “must be willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done” likely indicate a high-stress environment. That stress may have serious causes such as a toxic workplace culture, understaffing, or poor management practices. It may be difficult to maintain a healthy work/life balance in roles like these, which can lead to job dissatisfaction or even burnout. Tread carefully. Certain tech roles may indeed require duties of this type. But be especially careful if the role you’re applying to shouldn’t have to function in these ways.
These types of phrases present more subtle red flags than a blatant list of excessive qualifications. You may find it helpful to keep the following phrases in mind when reviewing job postings:
- A “fast-paced environment” isn’t unusual; many roles require quick decision-making or prioritizing on the fly. However, if your tech role doesn’t usually function in a fast-paced environment, be wary. The employer may equate speed with success and expect employees to keep a hectic pace regardless of industry norms.
- “Wearing many hats” is common in smaller organizations and startups since employees may be required to juggle responsibilities outside their primary role. However, this type of workplace structure may indicate undefined roles, lack of support, or poor management.
- Mentioning “tight deadlines” and “long hours” may be indicative of understaffing, unrealistic expectations, poor management, or a toxic company culture that rewards overwork.
- The buzzphrase “passionate about the mission” may indicate that the company expects employees to prioritize work above all else, including personal time and a healthy work/life balance.
Some companies and roles genuinely require employees to work quickly, juggle priorities, and meet daily deadlines. But in those cases, support systems should be mentioned in the job description too – such as flexible work arrangements, mental health supports, and continuous learning opportunities. If the job description doesn’t mention any supports, that’s a serious red flag. The company is likely relying on overworked employees to meet goals rather than increasing staffing or addressing workplace issues.
If the role still interests you, research the company on platforms like Glassdoor and Indeed. Follow the company on its social platforms and read comments and reviews left on its pages. If you go ahead with the interview ask relevant questions about available supports for a healthy work/life balance. If the company is well-reviewed by its current and past employees, handles your interview questions well, and has supports in place to balance the hectic work environment, taking the role may be worth it if you have ways to manage the stress and the role will further your career goals.
Lack of Transparency About Salary And Benefits
For most candidates, the salary range and details about benefits packages are key factors in the decision whether to apply for a job. Without that information, they may be reluctant to apply, unsure if the role aligns with their financial needs and expectations. Transparency about salary and benefits in the job description demonstrates a company’s respect for candidates’ time and commitment to fair hiring practices.
In addition to a specific salary range, a job description should provide other relevant details about salary and benefits. Consider it a red flag if the job description contains any of the following:
- The term “competitive salary” with no further details: A “competitive salary” should be benchmarked against industry standards but there is no guarantee that that’s the case.
- No mention of benefits: A job posting should, at the very least, list the key benefits the company offers, including health insurance, paid time off, parental leave, and retirement contributions. With no indication of benefits, it’s a concern that they might be subpar – or nonexistent.
- No indication of flexible work arrangements: Today’s tech and engineering professionals strongly prefer flexible work arrangements. If they aren’t mentioned on the job posting, they’re likely not offered. A further concern is that a company that doesn’t offer flexibility to its employees may have a rigid or outdated culture.
- An unexplained reference to “performance-based pay”: Performance incentives may be terrific – or not. A lack of information about bonuses and commission structures combined with no mention of the base salary is a serious red flag.
A hesitancy to be transparent about salary and benefits may point to disorganized hiring practices or indicate that the compensation rate is below industry standards. Alternately, the employer may intend to negotiate based on the candidate’s current salary rather than offer truly competitive remuneration. This is particularly problematic if the candidate is moving up from a position in a lower pay bracket.
If the position is an exciting one that fits well in your career path, do your research. Use platforms like Glassdoor and Payscale to uncover typical salary ranges for similar roles in your geographic location. You may also be able to find compensation details in reviews left by current or past employees.
If you proceed to the interview stage, be forthright and ask for details. It’s a good sign if the hiring team provides those details or at least a thoughtful reply. However, if they evade your questions, it signals that they don’t value your time or consider transparency a priority for their company.
Frequently Reposting The Same Role
Seeing the same role reposted frequently is a glaring red flag. It likely signals issues within the company such as high turnover, unrealistic expectations, uncompetitive compensation, a toxic company culture, or poor leadership.
If you decide to apply anyway, ask pointed questions about the vacancy during your interview. It’s possible that there is a reasonable explanation or that the company is undertaking work to fix the issues at hand.
Identifying and avoiding red flags in job postings is a critical skill for engineerings and tech professionals as they navigate today’s job market. Some of those red flags may be obvious, others more subtle. By thoughtfully reading job descriptions, you will be able to avoid applying for positions that would be a bad fit for you, saving you the time and effort of going through the interview process – and the frustration and despair of landing in a toxic workplace with a dead-end job.
