“‘We have unlimited vacation.’
Also, if/when you leave the company, you won’t get any prorated vacation time paid out.”
and the responses…well, you might want to bookmark these.
“‘We are in a period of a lot of change right now.’
That’s free contract work, ladies and gents.”
u/mpshumake
3.
“‘Overtime is strictly not allowed.’
But it was expected I’d stay over.
A company should never tell an employee they won’t compensate them for working on their time.”
[deleted]
4.
“‘We have unlimited vacation.’
Also, if/when you leave the company, you won’t get any prorated vacation time paid out.”
u/Brokelynne
5.
“‘We offer a longevity bonus if you stay with the company for x time frame.’
AKA, we have to pay people extra to stay here.”
u/Fickle-Psychology-77
6.
“Having you take personality tests like Myers Briggs or other pseudoscience BS.”
It’s fucking predatory and manipulative, in my opinion."
u/Fred_Foreskin
“I’m in HR.
Those tests are unreliable AF.
Thankfully, people are starting to phase it out.”
u/miketigerdominates
7.
“If the word ‘family’ is used.”
u/aSocraticQuestion
8.
“Also, if actual family members work there.
Sisters, kids, wife…majorly toxic.”
u/IOnlyhave5_i_s
9.
I said I didn’t need to work for that kind of company."
u/earlysong
“I had a recruiter reach out to me about a job months ago.
… Bullet dodged, no doubt.”
u/Infected_Pretensile
10.
“‘Do not discuss your compensation with other team members.’
It will someday be your turn to get screwed.”
u/CloroxWipes1
11.
“‘We’re no longer a startup, but still have the startup culture.’
This really means 80-hour weeks and low pay even if the company is doing well.”
u/arelath
“Or, ‘We’re a startup that’s been in business for 10+ years.’
No, you’re a business, and that equity you’re offering is worthless.”
u/SuspiciousBroccoli43
“The whole ‘startup’ tag is suspect.
I did a job reference for a friend who was applying at an 11-year startup.
If you are still hunting for investors after 11 years, you have to wonder about your business model.
It seems to be a buzzword for cool, cutting edge, and a culture of overwork.”
u/ElectricMan324
“We don’t offer bonuses or raises, but wedohave a pool table.”
u/Crisis_Redditor
“Having a ‘startup culture’ also can mean that they don’t have processes documented.
But ‘move fast, break things,’ right?”
moaaaaaaa
12.
Ask specifically about the turnover rate."
u/AllisonDTyner
“I went to an ‘interview’ for an assisted living place.
u/leah_mw1984
13. u/SuperspyUK
15.
Why not just own that??
“Sign this document saying you won’t file an EEOC complaint…(true story).”
u/amsco
17.
“‘What would be the lowest salary you would work for?
The absolute minimum that you’re free to tolerate?’
What a nice way to make a possible new employee feel appreciated.”
u/lizztastic_chick
18. u/Karazhan
19.
“‘Work hard, play hard.’
Run as far and as fast as you’re free to if you hear that.”
u/jayydubbya
20.
“‘We expect flexibility with regard to schedules from our employees.
So, always be prepared to accommodate staffing demands.'”
Talking about your weekends?
They called you up on your day off?
Be here in an hour.
They worked you until midnight?
You’re scheduled to pop pop the next day.”
u/Yawzheek
21.
“Expected to be on call 24/7.
This is literally from a job description for Universal Studios.
Unless you’re a brain surgeon, firefighter, etc.
Some have a rotation; some just expect you to be reachable.
u/NumbSurprise
22.
“‘We expect this position to be your priority.’
u/doublepulse
“Or if they require full-time availability for a part-time job paying minimum wage.”
u/emthejedichic
23. u/about_a_biscuit
“I heard this exact phrase in one of my first jobs in VFX.
I became the fifth person to quit three weeks later.”
u/UncleHeavy
24.
“‘No two days are alike.’
There’s a good chance that means there’s no leadership and the workplace is utter chaos.
u/OccasionallyWright
25.
“‘Be able to work on different projects with tight deadlines.’
Constantly jumping from project to project will wear you out in the long run.
Also, multitasking is not the most efficient way to do things.
This also could mean you are doing two to three people’s jobs.”
u/jay105000
26.
“They can’t describe how an ordinary workweek will look.
“A lot of restaurants through the years ‘Can you start tonight?’
means they are super understaffed.
One time, they asked if I could start now.
Like, ‘Interview’s over; hop on the line.'”
u/Frodo_71
“Interview for produce clerk at a grocery store:
Manager: ‘You got the job!
Can you start this afternoon?’
Me: ‘Uhh, I’ve got this other commitment.’
it’s possible for you to start tomorrow.’
u/originalchaosinabox
28. u/strungup
“Either they’re too picky, or they don’t pay market value for the job.”
Like, bruh, maybe you’re the problem.”
g41215b4f0
31. u/GboyFlex
“The other is ‘It’s dependent on the candidate.’
If they are interviewing for a position, they know what it pays.”
u/Foodwithfloyd
32.
“Anything that changes [from the job description].
Each time, I was told it was because ‘listing a higher salary attracts more qualified candidates.’
Declined both offers right there on the spot.”
u/sleestak_orgy
u/Gooduglybad16
34. u/Beths_Titties
35.
“They are interviewing for a position that is currently held by another person.
HR asks for discretion since they have not told the employee they are being let go yet.”
“you gotta buy X to start training.”
I believe some of these have been outlawed in some places now.”
u/fanestre
37.
No, I did not continue the interview process.”
u/jbsinger
38.
“Any restaurant that charges the cooks to eat.”
u/Phillyfrom312
“If they can’t feed employees, it means they are failing.”
u/alarsonious
39. u/theflesheatingmuffin
40.
“‘You give us 90 days at $, and we will give you $$.’
The trades are infamous for offers like that, and they rarely work out.”
Yup, been there.”
u/Sauteedmushroom2
“My husband was scammed by a 90-day policy.
However, it wasn’t 90 calendar days; it was 90 days that he actually worked.
I probably avoided a horrible job.”
u/BlartIsMyCoPilot
42. u/Sufficient_Ad478
43. u/kcf2816
44. u/RexCrimson_
45.
“‘Rapidly shifting priorities’ is code for ‘Management doesn’t know what the eff they want.'”
u/rotatingruhnama
46.
Interviews are conversations, and so many people are horrible at conducting interviews.
Its 99% them grilling a candidate.”
u/DryBreakfast7
47.
“‘Big personalities.’
u/dtmfadvice
“‘You’ll be working for X.
They are super passionate and a genius in what we do.
They can be demanding, but if you meet expectations, they are great to learn from.’
u/Re-Created
48.
“‘Your coworkers will be really supportive; just ask them if you have any questions!’
u/Girl_Anachronism1
49.
If you have an issue, talk to your boss.
If you have an issue with your boss, good luck.”
How do they look?
What do they do?
What do they speak about?
Ask a question at reception, like, ‘Where is a toilet?’
and see how they respond.”
u/makosh22
“Also, see what the toilets look like.
u/yodaa_san
“Ask about how they handled the COVID pandemic.
u/ronaldreaganlive
“‘What’s your salary expectation?’
Never, ever answer that.
If they aren’t telling you what they expect to pay, there’s a reason.
Small or big companies, all are the same on this.”
u/CygniYuXian
Good luck.
It’s rough out there.
Submissions have been edited for length/clarity.
