You’re likely to spend at least 40 hours a week at a job. Because your workplace consists of such a massive chunk of your day, you want to ensure that you feel comfortable and secure with the business that hires you.
You know that a healthy work culture is crucial. Unfortunately, not every job will provide you with the sense of community, values or the environment that you deserve. But you don’t also want to sign up for a new position and discover a toxic work culture after it’s too late.
Fortunately, we’ve compiled a list of the top four warning signs to be on the lookout for during your job hunt to guarantee that you don’t accept a position with the wrong company.
The workplace lacks diversity
When you walk through the front doors of your new prospective workplace, you expect to see a diverse array of clients. Imagine your surprise, however, when you quickly realize that everyone is a cookie-cutter image of one another.
A lack of diversity gives you a peek into the culture of a particular job. If everyone looks the same, dresses in the same manner, and appears to act alike, it may serve as an indication that your sense of creativity and uniqueness will be stifled.
Employers who take advantage of the benefits of a diversified workforce will help foster a positive environment of acceptance—a value you’ll want to be on the lookout for as a prospective employee.
An unkempt bathroom
I know what you’re thinking. How does a bathroom serve as an indication of a job’s work culture? But in more ways than one, a quick glance at a business’s restroom can offer considerable insight into what you can expect of a company as a whole.
Have you ever heard of the trick to check out a restaurant’s bathroom before you decide to eat at a given location? Well, this rule of thumb applies when searching for a job, too.
A messy bathroom serves as a definite red flag because if the workers aren’t willing to put in the added effort into keeping this space clean, what other areas of the job are they likely to neglect? If an act as simple as replacing the toilet paper roll with a new one seems too tedious, you can take this as an indication that the employers at that particular job don’t do too well with team efforts.
Remember to excuse yourself after your job interview to take a brief peek at the bathroom before you go on your merry way. If it looks like the bathroom is a disaster, you can take it as a sign that other aspects of the job aren’t likely to be in order, too.
Workers who sound and look unhappy
While verbally hearing a worker express their discontent with their job would serve as a definite red flag, sometimes you need to pick up on more subtle signs given by employees and staff members during an interview.
Recent research studies show that roughly 65 percent of our communication is generated by body language alone. Take a peek at the workers and see what their bodily expressions indicate about their level of happiness at their work.
Are they slouched over, or do they have their brows scrunched in frustration? Do people seem to be hurriedly rushing from one place to the next?
Pick up on the body language cues that indicate a potentially toxic work environment. Remember that actions speak louder than words and can serve as an excellent indication of what you can expect as an employee at a business.
A lack of established core values or goals
Whether you’re preparing for an interview for a prospective workplace or are looking into a specific job in greater depth, the values and key principles of a business are likely to be immediately evident.
When they’re not, this serves as a huge red flag. A company should always have a clear mission because their values and objectives are a significant part of their identity. Without them, you may find yourself uncertain as to how your goals and values match up with that of a company.
During the interview process, your interviewer should encourage feedback and discussion that promotes sharing your core values while hearing more about the goals and principles prioritized by those at their business, too.
Making the final decision
Ultimately, you’ll want to trust your gut when it comes to choosing a new workplace. Does something seem off or do you have a sneaky suspicion that you won’t find happiness at a given company? If so, that’s fine! Keep your options open. When you use the tips outlined above during the interview and job-searching process, you’re much more likely to choose the ideal fit for you.