{"id":3179,"date":"2021-08-03T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-03T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.accrediteddebtrelief.com\/blog\/?p=3179"},"modified":"2021-08-03T16:18:42","modified_gmt":"2021-08-03T21:18:42","slug":"5-job-posting-red-flags-to-watch-out-for","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.accrediteddebtrelief.com\/blog\/5-job-posting-red-flags-to-watch-out-for\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Job Posting Red Flags to Watch Out For"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

After an uncertain 2020, jobs numbers are looking up again. With increasing employment rates<\/a> and U.S. companies offering better wages and benefits<\/a>, now is a great time for job seekers to hunt for their next career. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, this employment rush has also opened the door for more suspicious listings and less-than-ideal job postings. Do you know how to spot scams and time-wasters in the sea of hiring notices? Be on the lookout for these five red flags as you search for your next job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

1. Not Enough Information<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHelp wanted\u201d ads and job postings are meant to give a general overview of the company and position. Some details may be left out on paper, but it should be easy to get additional information from the hiring manager. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the listing or hiring managers are being especially vague about key details, however, it\u2019s a good sign that the job won\u2019t be worth your time. Be sure you\u2019re getting clear information about the following three topics:  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pay<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While most job-seekers would prefer salary ranges and benefits to be front-and-center, there are a variety of reasons why a company may keep pay information off of their public job listings. However, if hiring managers are shying away from money talks during initial interviews, that\u2019s a bad sign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be sure to ask for clarity if a posting lists the salary as \u201cup to\u201d a certain amount a year. This usually means that earnings are commission-based, and that the base salary is MUCH lower than the number being advertised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Company<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Some companies post job openings anonymously<\/a> for good and legitimate reasons. For example, they might not want to tip off competitors, or they may want to avoid making an internal hire. However, secrecy could also be a sign that the posting is a hoax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPostings that are completely anonymous are an instant no for me\u2014few legitimate companies will do this,\u201d warns Jon Hill, chairman and CEO at The Energists<\/a>. \u201cIdeally the posting should include some basic information on the company, like its mission statement and purpose. At the very least, the posting should include the company\u2019s name and location so you can do independent research.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anonymous postings are more common when working with recruiters. Still, that doesn\u2019t mean you should be completely in the dark about what they\u2019re pitching you for. Your recruiter should be able to provide you with basic information early on in the consideration process, like the type of industry they\u2019re hiring for and the pay range for the position.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Job Duties<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Most of us have completed work tasks that weren\u2019t part of our original job description at some point or another. Even so, if your job description wasn\u2019t clear to begin with, how do you really know if you\u2019re doing what you were originally hired to do?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stephen Greet, CEO at BeamJobs<\/a>, notes that overly vague job descriptions may be a sign that the company hasn\u2019t thought through the role they\u2019re trying to fill. \u201cA vague or generic job description implies you’ll have to figure out your role as you go,\u201d he warned. \u201cWithout a clear delineation of your responsibilities or the metrics you’ll be in charge of, it will be difficult to know how you’re doing in your role.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you do apply for a vague role and are still unclear as to what exactly the company wants from their next employee, try asking what goals the company has for the new hire during the first 30, 90 and 180 days on the job. If the interviewers can\u2019t give a clear answer, it\u2019s a good idea to avoid that position and company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Unrealistic Expectations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you first entered the workforce in the past 15 years or so, you\u2019ve likely come across job notices with impossible-to-fill qualifications like these:<\/p>\n\n\n\n