Job applications these days are not for the faint-hearted. An oversupply of job applicants, shady recruitment practices and hostile immigration policies in the case of immigrant jobseekers are some examples of the challenges that applicants have to navigate. 

There are certain red flags that you should never ignore in job applications. Job searching can be tricky, overwhelming and exhausting. The current job market dynamics, at least in the UK, are also not in the jobseeker’s favour.

Securing a role can be difficult, and it takes time, and effort as well as facing rejections. However, there are certain times that a job applicant should not ignore certain red flags and potentially consider an alternative employer. 

It’s important to understand that your career and time are integral to how your life turns out in the future. Additionally, you must also be aware of your rights as a job seeker and potential employee. 

I have had the painful experience of the job market myself. Moreover, I hired a team of four for my startup, StudyFlats, back in 2019. To put it simply: I have reviewed thousands of CVs, as well as job postings. 

During my days of browsing job applications, I was less experienced and therefore was not aware of these red flags. In this article, I’ll highlight 3 which are relatively common but sadly many applicants tend to ignore these which only indicates further problems down the line.

1. Asking for free work through assessments/tasks 

I truly detest this practice of getting free work out of job applicants. 

Yes, there may be certain careers where practical tasks are essential to candidate selection. However, in many roles such as digital marketing jobs, these are not only unnecessary but a potential misuse by employers. 

Let’s consider this example: you apply for a copywriting job. The job asks you to write an article for them on a selected topic. 

The employer then rejects you after this task. However, now they have a free sample of work from you that they can use themselves for their gain. 

Instead, this employer could have looked at your previous work/writing portfolio, as well as qualifications. 

Some suggest that you put a copyright notice on the work. Maybe, but what sort of impression and atmosphere does this create? 

In the case of other roles, it could be your ideas that the employer is after. Thus, in reality, there is no way for you to legally protect your work.

These are realities that you will only realise once you navigate the professional world for years. 

2. Unclear selection process 

This is another red flag to look out for in job applications. Having a clear candidate selection process, and clarifying this to job applicants early on is a good sign.

On the other hand, if the selection process is vague, or changes on short notice, be wary.

3. Negative employer reviews

Check out sites such as Glassdoor or Indeed to look for reviews by former job applicants or employees of the company that you are applying to.

Of course, take negative reviews with a pinch of salt, especially if there are not too many. 

However, a large number of negative reviews, especially if they highlight a specific problem is a red flag.

These are 3 common red flags in job applications to be aware of when searching for roles. If you need help with your job search, check out my services for job seekers, students and graduates.

About | My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business, StudyFlats. I grew my business to over 30 UK cities, and a team of four internally.