6 Types of Organisations You Should Never Apply to

Have you ever found yourself in a bad position at a rotten organisation and thought, if only I’d known it would be this way I never would have taken this job? Luckily, you don’t need a crystal ball to keep you far away from organisations that aren’t worth your time — or that could wreck your work life. There are warning signs you can easily see — if you know what to look for — at companies that aren't even worth applying to. Here are six of them:

1. The Revolving Door

Red Flags: A lot of available jobs at one company isn’t always a good thing. If a company is constantly posting openings for the same key roles, it’s time to beware — and look elsewhere!

Why You Should Avoid It: When companies grow, they often offer up new (and key) roles. But if a company isn’t growing and is looking to fill management or leadership roles every six months, that’s a sign they have a high turnover rate. That could mean that company leaders aren’t able to find the right candidates, or their culture forces even the best of the best to resign. Either way, a company with a high turnover rate will be a waste of your time.

2. The Culture-Deaf Corporation

Red Flags: If you spot a pattern of negative employee reviews calling out a poor company culture, beware! If a recruiter won’t get into specifics about the culture in an interview, that’s also bad.

Why You Should Avoid It: Think about it: You spend most of your waking hours at work. Do you really want to spend them at a place where you feel your needs and values aren’t heard or respected? Of course not! Plus, a positive company culture can drive financial performance and a productive workforce — which means a negative culture can do the exact opposite.

3. The Top-Heavy Business

Red Flags: This one can admittedly be tough to spot. But if throughout the interview process it becomes clear that employees aren’t given much responsibility or autonomy, that can be a sign this company doesn’t value its workers as much as its top executives.

Why You Should Avoid It: Having great leaders is really important to both company and employee success. However, if a company’s resources and trust go almost entirely to its leaders — with none for its other employees — that’s a recipe for dissatisfaction at work. After all, all team members are important, and you should feel like you are at your office.

4. The Over-Promise, Under-Deliver Company

Red Flags: A company may talk a big game about their amazing culture, limitless career opportunities and unbeatable compensation and perks, but don't trust them without verifying. Read company reviews. If you spot several that mention that things aren't as perfect as they seem, stay away.

Why You Should Avoid It: It’s a competitive job market, which means companies know they need to attract top talent with attractive cultures, benefits and perks — and they promise them. But if they can’t follow through on those promises, you could find yourself trapped in a job that’s going nowhere. Think about it: If you’re drawn to a company that promises to promote within a certain time period, then never broaches the topic again, you would be upset — and rightfully so. Instead, aim to work for a company with a track record of action.

5. The Stay-Where-You-Are-Forever Business

Red Flags: At this company, there’s no mention of moving up, mentorship or professional development during the interview process. All you will get is the job you’ve applied for.

Why You Should Avoid It: When you’re on the cusp of snagging your dream job, a lack of learning and development offerings might seem low on your priority list. But if a hiring manager has evaded your questions about future opportunities within the company, that could mean this company has no interest in helping you reach your long-term goals. And that spells dead-end — no matter how good the job on the table may be. You want to work somewhere you can grow, with a company who supports you and helps you reach your long-term goals.

6. The Ship Lost a Sea

Red flags: When you ask the hiring manager where the company is headed, he has no clue. The employees don’t know its long-term goals either — which means they don’t have any.

Why You Should Avoid It: Without a clear direction, how will you know if you want to join the organisation on their journey? The best companies have goals and know where they’re headed — or at least know where they want to go. If an organisation doesn’t know, that could be a sign that key leaders lack a plan for growth and their foundation is a bit shaky.