There's a lot of pressure for anyone getting out of the military. Whether they have a family to look after or not, finding that first civilian job is a crucial step.
Some job seekers will selectively target their dream jobs. Others will canvass the region, looking for anything to sustain them as they make a transition. One thing is true for every newly minted civilian, however: It feels great to be called in to interview for that job they really want.
But before getting carried away with the idea of that job, it's important to take a critical look at the company, its staff and even its offices before committing to it. After all, an interview isn't just for the employer to look at the applicant; the applicant needs to consider whether the job and the company are right for them.
Here are 10 glaring red flags that might be a signal whether to continue your job hunt.
10. A Vague Job Description
Sure, we all read the job listing and tailor our resumes and cover letters to fit (I mean ... we did do that, right?). But when it's time to actually get to the office and meet the person making the hiring decision, one of the questions everyone should ask is about the potential new job function in the context of daily office operations.
If the interviewer isn't quite clear about how the position will be expected to contribute to the daily success of the company, there's a good chance the new hire won't know, either. It's very difficult to succeed in an environment without leadership, especially when the new guy isn't experienced enough to take up that mantle. Be wary.
9. Negative Reviews
Just like products and services, companies are best reviewed through word of mouth. The good news is that these days, employees can review their companies on job search websites. It makes total sense to look at those reviews and then ask the interviewer about some of those criticisms, should the issue arise.
If the employer starts offering complaints about the previous person who held the position, listen closely. Whether it's just sour grapes or a legitimate complaint, they shouldn't be telling a new candidate about it. That's a sign of the company culture, and one that may not be healthy.
A veteran may have had to put up with toxic leadership at some point in the military, but they don't have to volunteer for it again, especially when the warning signs are there.
8. They Have Trouble Keeping the Job Filled
If the position a candidate is vying for has had to be filled every year, that might be a key indicator they will also be looking for work in a year.
People don't leave good jobs after one year, and if they do for some reason, their successor doesn't leave the same job after one year. That's what we call "high turnover."
A high turnover rate like that means something isn't right with that particular position, be it because of toxic leadership, poor company policies or even overly demanding expectations. It doesn't matter what the reason is: Until the issue is fixed, everyone will be affected by it.
7. They Contact You at Weird Hours
Did the interview request come at 10 a.m. on a Sunday morning? Did the human resources director or interviewer call with a resume question during dinner on a Wednesday? Are these the times you want to be at your desk?
There's nothing wrong with putting in a few extra hours, but maintaining a healthy work-life balance is also important. If the people making the hiring decision are working all the time, then everyone at the company might be, too. Holidays, weekends and critical times in your family life could all be on the chopping block.
It's important to remember this isn't a military job. Unless workaholism is truly enjoyable for you, there's no need to be deployable to write TPS Reports 24/7.
6. The Hiring Manager Has No Long-Term Goals
There's nothing wrong with asking an interviewer about their long-term goals at the company. It's a great way to gauge how they feel about their role in the company and if they feel they have growth potential within it.
Think about the time spent working for a company as an investment: Why would anyone invest in something that offers no growth or return? If the hiring manager or HR employee has no growth potential, new hires likely won't, either.
Even if someone hated being in the U.S. military, there was always room for promotion and self-growth.
5. They Ask You to Trade Salary for 'Opportunity'
If an employer tells a potential new hire that the pay for the position is low, but the potential for growth is "exponential" because the company is set to "tip any time now" (or something like that), it's time to take a pause.
Unless the job is with a hot, well-funded Silicon Valley startup that is bringing a new technology to market, this is just wishful thinking. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
A variation on this would be trading salary expectations for the company's stock options. Even private companies had stock options to be exercised in case of going public, but again, consider the company and weigh the risks. You can always buy actual stock later with a good salary.
4. Office Perks Collecting Dust
How great was the squadron burger burn? Getting a few hours to relax and get to know the co-workers was a pretty great perk. It's nice to see some employers adopting those kinds of morale-boosting activities, but don't let that blind you to reality.
If a business offers a bunch of fun employee "perks" for the office, take a close look at them. If the office Xbox or training gym is actually just sitting around collecting dust, there likely isn't downtime for that sort of thing -- and there never will be.
It's not a real perk unless people get to use it.
3. Gathering Too Much Personal Information Too Soon
If an employer asks someone about their full name, birthdate and Social Security number, or casually mentions they asked a common connection on LinkedIn about you before anything else, think about heading for the hills. Reaching out to references not listed on a resume or without asking permission is a huge overstep, even if the review is a positive one.
Even asking about your marriage status and how many children you have during the first interview is a potential red flag: They may be secretly asking how much time you can dedicate to the job.
2. Asking About Your Previous Salary
This is also personal information, but it deserves a special mention because this is something that is totally legal for them to ask for -- and an applicant who is dying for that dream job will likely volunteer it, if asked.
The truth is that previous salaries are not relevant to their job, which has an entirely different function in a different company with different personnel and its own set of challenges and key performance indicators. Moreover, they're asking the applicant to tip their hand when it comes to salary negotiation.
1. Anyone Stressing They're an 'At-Will' Employer
This sounds innocent enough, but it's not. If the hiring manager, HR employee or anyone else interviewing the candidate keeps mentioning their company is an "at-will" employer, it might be time to reconsider this job. "At-will" means "fire at will"; it's a controversial legal decision that allows employers to fire any employee, any time, for any reason, other than the usual illegal reasons like gender, age, race and the like.
It doesn't matter whether you do an excellent job for a decade, they want you to know they don't need a reason to fire you. Repeatedly mentioning this in an interview is not the warm fuzzy you want for your first civilian job.
-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com.
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