A reader writes:
I’m searching for a job in the real workplace for the first time — previously I’ve only been family-employed and self-employed. So I have work experience, but not necessarily in an official workplace context.
I’ve been job-searching for four months and haven’t gotten a job yet. I’m moving to a different state now, and I’ll continue job-searching there. I already have some options to try out. My question is: is it possible to know in advance whether or not a workplace is toxic, and if I have an inkling that it is, is that something I should avoid at all costs? Or should I give it a fair chance?
I have a cool job prospect that I know I’d be qualified for, with a luxury cabin rental business. I grew up working in a family-owned cabin rental business for 16 years. This particular business is generally very well-reviewed by its guests and is considered a high-quality place.
But I know it’s possible for a business to be adored by its customers yet still have a toxic interior. I’ve read a couple reviews from people who’ve worked there, reviews that were very negative (about how bad management is, how they work you to death, etc.), with no corresponding or larger amount of positive reviews. I’ve also talked on the phone with one person in the business about setting up an interview once I’m in their state, and even the vibe I got from her on the phone wasn’t super great. But I could also be reading stuff into it, and I’m not sure how to tell.
Do I trust those reviews and my instincts and not even try for a job here? Or do I give it a chance, go for an interview, and hope I can pick up on any actual red flags during the interview?
The thing is, I genuinely wanted to work at this place. I think it’s awesome from the outside. But these things have given me pause, and I really would love to stay out of toxic work situations.
I also really need a job, though. Soon. Is the necessity of getting a job ever a good reason for getting yourself hired at a place you already think might have bad management?
I have another job option that looks better as far as workplace culture and management goes, at a library. I’d love working at a good library. It’s about twice as long a drive, though, and has lower pay from what I can tell. So I’d be spending more to commute and getting paid less than with that cabin rental business. Is better pay and lower gas cost ever a good reason for getting a job at a potentially toxic workplace?
I’m pretty terrified of potentially landing myself in a bad workplace. But I also know that I can’t be picky forever, and if I’m just not getting a job, am I being too selective in my desire to avoid difficult environments/situations?
Well, there are lots of flavors of bad management, and some of them are more tolerable than others. There’s management that’s bad because they won’t set clear expectations, or flip-flop on decisions. There are managers who won’t deal with problems, or don’t recognize good work, or don’t train people correctly. There are managers who expect unreasonably long hours, or don’t pay fairly, or make promises they don’t deliver on. There are micromanagers, absentee managers, lazy managers, tyrants who yell … and on and on. You might be able to work reasonably happily in some of these scenarios and would be miserable in others. And there’s variation from person to person; some people are perfectly happy in cultures that others can’t stand, and vice versa. (Although I would say unreasonably long hours should be on everyone’s “no” list, unless you have deliberately agreed to that in exchange for commensurate pay.)
So just hearing somewhere has bad management doesn’t tell you everything you need to know. It’s absolutely a sign to be cautious — something’s going on there that you need to dig into more. But the specifics really matter.
And of course, the more options you have, the pickier you can be. Sometimes, yes, people do take jobs that they can see are likely to be a trash fire because they need income, and they have limited options for getting it. As you build more options for yourself, you can be choosier.
Also, though, you’re probably going to land at a bad workplace at some point in your career, just because there are a lot of them out there. And even workplaces that lots of people love could have elements about them that don’t work for you. Rather than being paralyzed by fear of finding yourself in a bad job, a more reliable move is to build trust in yourself to handle it well if you do. What that looks like will vary by person and by situation. In some cases, it will mean getting out as soon as possible. In other cases, though, it could mean detaching emotionally, maintaining appropriate boundaries, being assertive when you need to and letting the rest go, staying clear in your own head on why you’re there for the time being (like great health insurance or good pay or, hell, it just being the only thing you could find at the time), and being vigilant about not letting it recalibrate your sense of normal.
In your case, with the two prospects you’re considering: trust your instincts, but also don’t veto anything prematurely. Interview, talk to them, raise concerns if you have them (it’s perfectly okay to ask about the online critiques you saw; their response might tell you a lot), talk with others who have worked there, and gather as much data as you can. You will always be choosing between imperfect options and you absolutely shouldn’t dismiss your instincts, but the more info you can get, the better equipped you’ll be to decide what matters most to you and what trade-offs you’re most willing to make.
