Tuesday, November 5, 2024

From ‘fast-paced environment’ to ‘salary DOE’, we reveal the job listing red flags you should always look out for

Must read

  • Job descriptions can reveal clues about a company’s workplace culture
  • Other red flags to look out for include referring to colleagues as ‘family’ 

There are many reasons why we look for a new job: more money, better working conditions or career progression are some of the most common.

And while you might be drawn to certain roles because you’ve always wanted to work for a specific company or the job description looks interesting, it’s important to read between the lines and fully understand what a job description means.

From salary lingo that has been designed to confuse you, to the tell-tale signs of toxic culture, below we’re highlighting some of the biggest red flags to look out for in job descriptions.

If a job listing doesn’t stipulate any workplace benefits, it probably means you won’t be entitled to any

Salary DOE 

When a company advertises a position, it’s usually because they’re replacing someone. And if they’re replacing someone, they’ll have a budget allocated for that role. That said, if it’s a newly created role, they’ll also have a pre-approved budget allocated for that role.

So, if you see a job description that stipulates ‘Salary DOE’ (dependent on experience) know that your prospective new employer probably wants to save a few quid and negotiate your new salary based on what you currently earn, rather than what they can afford to pay you.

No benefits 

UK employees are thankfully entitled to 28 days annual leave per year and new mothers can take up to 52 weeks maternity leave (and paid up to 39 weeks on a reduced rate). Most employers offer additional workplace benefits including subsidised health insurance, fully paid maternity leave and a defined or matched pension contribution.

If a job listing doesn’t stipulate any workplace benefits, it probably means you won’t be entitled to any. And while you might think healthcare or a pension don’t really matter if you’re being paid well, you could be losing out on as much as 3 per cent of your pre-tax salary.

Be wary of any job description that mentions a ‘fast-paced environment’ as this usually equates to a rapid pace of work stretched resources and meeting tight deadlines

Be wary of any job description that mentions a ‘fast-paced environment’ as this usually equates to a rapid pace of work stretched resources and meeting tight deadlines

Fast-paced environment 

While a dynamic workplace that values efficiency and growth is always a plus, be wary of any job description that mentions a ‘fast-paced environment’ as this usually equates to a rapid pace of work, stretched resources, juggling multiple tasks and meeting tight deadlines.

And if you can’t fit all of that into your 9-5, it will most likely result in you working overtime in the evenings and at weekends without any additional remuneration.

Any mention of ‘family’ 

Move over Sister Sledge, colleagues are not your ‘family’ and any job description that refers to its staff as such should be avoided at all costs. Teamwork and collaboration are hugely important in the workplace but positioning co-workers as ‘family’ is not only unprofessional, it sets unrealistic expectations and makes it difficult for employees to set boundaries.

Ready to put your job description know-how to the test? Head to the Mail Jobs Board where you’ll find thousands of jobs in companies actively hiring, including the three below.

Job openings in the UK

Group Financial Accountant, Live Nation, London 

 Live Nation is seeking a Group Financial Accountant to play a key role in delivering Live Nation’s internal and external reporting requirements for the UK group, including monthly and quarterly balance sheet and GAAP company reporting. While the team is small, it works ‘flexibly’ to help facilitate a successful balance of your work and homelife. 

Interested? Apply here

 Sales Manager 360° Workspace UK, Bachmann Group, London 

 As a medium-sized family owned company, Bachmann Group leads with flat hierarchies and open door policies to foster personal and professional development.

In this Sales Manager role you will be responsible for continuously developing the sales territory on-site within the UK, focusing on key market sub-segments within the office and furniture segments. An electrical or commercial background and an understanding of the electrical or related software application sector is preferable but not essential. 

Find out more here.

Key Account Manager (Retail), UK&I   

SumUp card readers are available off-shelf in over 10,000 stores and webshops across the EU. As part of the Retail team, the Key Account Manager will play a key role in SumUp’s ambitious retail expansion activities and lead both existing retail partnerships and expansion by identifying, engaging, negotiating and closing partnerships with other strong retail brands.

If this sounds like the kind of role you’ve been looking for, check out the full job description here

Whether you want to escape a toxic work environment or are simply curious about what competitors are offering, check out the Mail Jobs Board today where you can find thousands of roles 

Latest article