₦airaland Forum

A

1. They invite you for an interview for 8am, You get there 7.30am, the interviewer gets there by 10am and starts the interview without apologizing. Please run.

2. The invite you for let say role of Field Sales Manager, when you get your offer letter, it's reads field sales supervisor or another role. Please do not listen. The environment is not right.

3. You get to the office and you see everyone forming straight face. No chit chats please run

4. You get there and see someone forming hard face with HR when s/he resigns please just walk away.

I have other pointers. let me stop here

[s]

mysticgal:
In the light of the current trending Topic #horrible bosses on social media, I would love to give my take on how to spot red flags at workplaces before or during job interviews from my perspective as a Lawyer and Human capital manager.

1.Superfluous and Vague Job Descriptions: Personally,writing a job description for a job advert is usually to attract someone who can perform those duties to the best of their given abilities and qualifications. But when a job description begins to mention buzzwords like "do you get angry or upset when you lose a simple game with friends? Hated being in any other position than First position? Competed with siblings and friends on everything growing up? Good!!! we want you as our sales executive. Send In your applications to......"
Now this sounds fun and really catchy but if you look at it thoroughly,it is a pointer of a toxic workplace some of the times. As vague as the job description sounds, that is how your work roles duties are bound to become on starting the job.
You want to apply for a job with a specified job description and possibly specific SOP on resumption to work.

2. The Interview is Riddled with an Unclear picture of the Job rolea nd Work Environment : I would keep saying this, an interview is the portal to see everything you would be doing in the prospective organisation. Infact, it is called an interview because the employer and prospective employee are looking to see if they would be a great fit for the organisation.
While interviewing, ask questions about the organisation; about their work culture, their salary structure and frequency, talk about rewards, pension and hmo, and even their employee turn over rate. Dont be shy, I like bold interviewees.
It is bad enough when the hiring manager cannot even explain the responsibilities of the role to you and when finally employed, you would find yourself being the Receptionist, Accountant, Cleaner, Security guard and then the main role you were employed for, Graphic designer and God help you, you find out the employer hires and fires at will.
However,I understand the employer may not be truthful as to the turnover rate in organizational work culture. So do yourself a favour and go on LinkedIn, twitter, Facebook or Glassdoor, hunt down former amd current employees and ask for honest feedback as to the employee turnover rate and work culture.

3. The Employment contract: I have an acquaintance that gets paid her monthly salary on the third week of the next month. I mean, it was written in her employment letter and she signed on it in desperation.
I would advise that when given an offer letter and an employment contract which you should have within 2 weeks of your employment, be read thoroughly or given to a lawyer to read through and explained to you. You would be surprised the kind of clauses and words that could and would alter an original agreement without an unlearned eye noticing it.
In your employment contract, these following terms should be contained with no exception but not expansively mentioned:
a) Terms and duties of your contract, with your exact Job title in bold.
b)Remuneration and benefits
c) Work hours in bold. If there is overtime, it should be written and if its paid or unpaid, it should also be written.
d) Leave and (maternity leaves for females)
e) Probation.
f) Termination and notice, make sure it has a notice period and a right to terminate from both parties with salary in lieu of notice and other compensation benefits.
e) Anti slavery and Sexual Assault policy.

Note: your contract can be negotiated and should be negotiable. And if it helps, mention to the hiring manager your desire to give your employment contract to your lawyer to look through. It helps notify the employer of legal cover. If you know what I mean.

4.Pray to whatever you believe,that you don't get employed by a demon boss and if you have already trapped, plan your exit and run for your life!!

I didn't want this to be a boring read, please everyone can input on red flags at Job places,or job interviews and how to avoid them?

BTW, I'm a corporate lawyer with experience in Corporate practice, contracts(real estate contracts, probate administration included) and Human Resource management. My dm is open for business only. Thank you.

[/s]

Nigerian workers are terrible, they are specialists in running businesses aground.

They deserve whatever they get from your "toxic workplace"

[s]

iHart:
There was a time I got a job interview with a big firm. I was certain about getting the job because of the recommendation I had. When I got to the company, I was asked to wait at the security post. While sitted there, I saw a notice on the board that said all the staff are expected to attend the burial of the mother of the owner of the company. The notice directed all the unit head to take attendance and report to the management. The notice said that attendance is mandatory and their will be sanctions for those who fail to attend. Something lead to something and the interview was cancelled for that day. So I was asked to return two days after. Before I left, I went to see the man that recommended for the job. He told me that my unit head is a lady and that I shouldn't show that I know the work more than her. Accordung to him, if the Chairman notice I am experienced more than my senior, he will demote her and promote me. Thats how the chairman works, who ever gets the work done very well, leads the unit irrespective of your years of experience in the firm. That will bring problem for me because many staff use juju for and against people in that company. I asked him what happened to the person that was in that position before. He said the man was caught in a native doctor's place where he went to do juju against the chairman of the company. They reported him to the chairman and he sacked him. I asked the man, who caught him and what took the person that caught him to the native doctor? I asked the man why he didn't recommend his son who was also qualified for the Job. He said, after him, none of his family member will work there. He painted a picture of a toxic environment.

I didn't return again for the interview. Irrespective of the salary, that place would have been hell for me.

[/s]

Start your company first before spewing trash

Winters23:
[s][/s]

Start your company first before spewing trash

at least I own one now.

Freelane33:
There is nothing as good as self employment .
That’s why it’s good to have one or two skills while studying.
While I was growing up .
I use to think people learning skills are useless
Until my elder bro got employed with his sec school certificate one auto company in Porto novo
Now he’s working in France and he’s the manager of the so called company as I’m typing
Cashing out massively
Advice : make sure you learn a skill
You can do anyhow if you are
Your own boss .

Dont deceive yourself, you are always working for someone even when self employed, your client is your employer if you doubt look at the list of clients, there are those who are responsible for mpre than 50% of your revenue, will you say no to such client?

Ask the banks if na lie.

Thankfully, too, you can always leave.


It's not marriage with a terrible stringent procedure.

If you find yourself in a toxic work environment, write your resignation and leave!!

Don't try to cope. You'll be traumatised.

Toxic work place is very emotionally and physically draining. It will affect your life.

In all my job hunt, my best ever interview process was with Nigeria LNG. Although unnecessarily long drawn lasting over 4 years, it was a very independent,merit-based process. At the end of the day those that were eventually offered employment letter were the very cream of the crop from the over 100k applicants. The only bleep in the process was the chaotic first stage organised by WAEC.

LemmyCreationz:
Eweeeeeeey!

As a content writer, you don't have to go through all that because you're your own boss.. You manage your time, resources and all that without a third party.

But certainly not everyone can sit 5 hours straight typing or designing on their computers, so good luck to all 9 to 5... God bless your hustle

By the way, I'm available for your writing and graphics design jobs, see my signature below, thanks

I know someone would type this, hope you know if everyone was their own boss you won’t even get any job to do as everyone wants to it by themselves or for less.

Have you taken into consideration how to raise capital to buy a laptop, data and other peripherals you use? Abi it will just appear on lap GBAM! not everyone like to beg for capital, some prefer to work , earn and set up their own

Most “self employed” tots can’t even pay an assistant for 6months consistently without delay in salary

quentin06:
Dont deceive yourself, you are always working for someone even when self employed, your client is your employer if you doubt look at the list of clients, there are those who are responsible for mpre than 50% of your revenue, will you say no to such client?

Ask the banks if na lie.

50%? There are one or two clients solely responsible for 80% of his revenue. Make hin misbehave to those two them he will know he is just an independent contract staff

jeff1607:
Most self employed tots can’t even pay an assistant for 6months consistently without delay in salary

Lol...why you wan break the last leg of the table nau? And it should be "self employed" (in quotes) and not self employed (without quotes). Big difference between both

WetinIsabi:
This list doesn't cut it. Except for testimonies from past employees, there is no way you can know for sure.

Paddy use Glassdoor simple

KingOfTheDamned:
Paddy use Glassdoor simple

For Nigerian owned companies?! Dude you are on a long thing!

WetinIsabi:
For Nigerian owned companies?! Dude you are on a long thing!

This is 2022 not 1970

I went for one interview for the role of a facility manager with one big hospitality company in my place. During the interview, the GMD looked at me and said; you don't look like someone who is honest, as a facility manager, I see you as one who will inflate the prices of materials when you prepare bills and estimates regarding to repair and maintenance works.

haba!

mysticgal:
In the light of the current trending Topic #horrible bosses on social media, I would love to give my take on how to spot red flags at workplaces before or during job interviews from my perspective as a Lawyer and Human capital manager.

1.Superfluous and Vague Job Descriptions: Personally,writing a job description for a job advert is usually to attract someone who can perform those duties to the best of their given abilities and qualifications. But when a job description begins to mention buzzwords like "do you get angry or upset when you lose a simple game with friends? Hated being in any other position than First position? Competed with siblings and friends on everything growing up? Good!!! we want you as our sales executive. Send In your applications to......"
Now this sounds fun and really catchy but if you look at it thoroughly,it is a pointer of a toxic workplace some of the times. As vague as the job description sounds, that is how your work roles duties are bound to become on starting the job.
You want to apply for a job with a specified job description and possibly specific SOP on resumption to work.

2. The Interview is Riddled with an Unclear picture of the Job rolea nd Work Environment : I would keep saying this, an interview is the portal to see everything you would be doing in the prospective organisation. Infact, it is called an interview because the employer and prospective employee are looking to see if they would be a great fit for the organisation.
While interviewing, ask questions about the organisation; about their work culture, their salary structure and frequency, talk about rewards, pension and hmo, and even their employee turn over rate. Dont be shy, I like bold interviewees.
It is bad enough when the hiring manager cannot even explain the responsibilities of the role to you and when finally employed, you would find yourself being the Receptionist, Accountant, Cleaner, Security guard and then the main role you were employed for, Graphic designer and God help you, you find out the employer hires and fires at will.
However,I understand the employer may not be truthful as to the turnover rate in organizational work culture. So do yourself a favour and go on LinkedIn, twitter, Facebook or Glassdoor, hunt down former amd current employees and ask for honest feedback as to the employee turnover rate and work culture.

3. The Employment contract: I have an acquaintance that gets paid her monthly salary on the third week of the next month. I mean, it was written in her employment letter and she signed on it in desperation.
I would advise that when given an offer letter and an employment contract which you should have within 2 weeks of your employment, be read thoroughly or given to a lawyer to read through and explained to you. You would be surprised the kind of clauses and words that could and would alter an original agreement without an unlearned eye noticing it.
In your employment contract, these following terms should be contained with no exception but not expansively mentioned:
a) Terms and duties of your contract, with your exact Job title in bold.
b)Remuneration and benefits
c) Work hours in bold. If there is overtime, it should be written and if its paid or unpaid, it should also be written.
d) Leave and (maternity leaves for females)
e) Probation.
f) Termination and notice, make sure it has a notice period and a right to terminate from both parties with salary in lieu of notice and other compensation benefits.
e) Anti slavery and Sexual Assault policy.

Note: your contract can be negotiated and should be negotiable. And if it helps, mention to the hiring manager your desire to give your employment contract to your lawyer to look through. It helps notify the employer of legal cover. If you know what I mean.

4.Pray to whatever you believe,that you don't get employed by a demon boss and if you have already trapped, plan your exit and run for your life!!

I didn't want this to be a boring read, please everyone can input on red flags at Job places,or job interviews and how to avoid them?

BTW, I'm a corporate lawyer with experience in Corporate practice, contracts(real estate contracts, probate administration included) and Human Resource management. My dm is open for business only. Thank you.

Hello Mr Op good evening, sorry to bother u but I would love ur take on this I'll be sharing with u.

There's this telecommunication company I applied for a work few months ago,(A SUBSIDIARY TO THE MAIN COMPANY). It happened that received a texted to come for an interview on 25th of February last month.

I went for the first interview, few days later I got a text that I was successful at the first interview and have been scheduled for another one.

On that said day of the second interview I met with the CEO, he asked me to write a shot detail of what I applied for, where I worked last, reason why I left, what I can do, reason why a fellow colleague might dislike me, my last salary and how much I would like to be paid. I wrote all that was requested of me and proceeds to be interviewed, after the whole session I left.

Few days later again I got a message that reads,:- good evening, please kindly check ur mail for an online zoom training. I check and I saw a link to join the zoom training a day after I received the email.

I joined the zoom training through the link I was sent, met some other people and few coordinators. The training was about what they are really in to and how it works, the whole session lasted for good 4 hours 30minutes, before the end I asked a question on how I'll be engaged and the tools of my work because it appears I was successfull during the whole interview session which is why they sent me a link to be part of their training, and I was told that I'll be communicated back to.

Ever since then I've not heard from them, but I do get messages from them that always refer me to check my mail, like a kind of update.

So my question is why take so long to resume work probably? And is there still hope about the job or should I just move on because it's been a month now since the first interview.

I'm worried

Often times, seeing is believing. A lot of organizations are politicized, and you have to kick a.s.s.e.s and hey when one Oga at the top doesn’t like you, just know you are in for it.

In almost every organization there is always one or more persons who feel the world revolves around them and most times there are usually the bosses whom those lower in rank report to.

All can be smooth and well, good pay, nice perks and what have you? But having a toxic boss would never give that piece of mind you deserve. These people, nothing you do is right is their eyes, some even spoil you and because of them you lose the promotion you deserve.

BigBashiru:
This thread won't reach 7 pages....because it's not about nyash and relationship and seks....

I don’t intend to have it reach pages just educate people. That’s all

Winters23:
[s][/s]

Nigerian workers are terrible, they are specialists in running businesses aground.

They deserve whatever they get from your "toxic workplace"

That’s why companies have the human resource personnel to curtail this issues too. Most times organizations like to minimize relevant personnel which is their downfall.

Really

DontBullshitMe:
No be you contest Miss Nairaland that year?

Nawa ooh.

Uh, me?

WetinIsabi:
This list doesn't cut it. Except for testimonies from past employees, there is no way you can know for sure.

I included hunting former and current employees, it’s there

Lymetsaucer:
You will know a lot by observing how he/she treats staff during your interviews.

Very true, I was in an interview and saw how jittery a lower staff was asking for a document. It was my sign to japa

Maryjane001:
Awesome read.

Thank you

Omo. Crazy thin Oga are happening

iHart:
There was a time I got a job interview with a big firm. I was certain about getting the job because of the recommendation I had. When I got to the company, I was asked to wait at the security post. While sitted there, I saw a notice on the board that said all the staff are expected to attend the burial of the mother of the owner of the company. The notice directed all the unit head to take attendance and report to the management. The notice said that attendance is mandatory and their will be sanctions for those who fail to attend. Something lead to something and the interview was cancelled for that day. So I was asked to return two days after. Before I left, I went to see the man that recommended for the job. He told me that my unit head is a lady and that I shouldn't show that I know the work more than her. Accordung to him, if the Chairman notice I am experienced more than my senior, he will demote her and promote me. Thats how the chairman works, who ever gets the work done very well, leads the unit irrespective of your years of experience in the firm. That will bring problem for me because many staff use juju for and against people in that company. I asked him what happened to the person that was in that position before. He said the man was caught in a native doctor's place where he went to do juju against the chairman of the company. They reported him to the chairman and he sacked him. I asked the man, who caught him and what took the person that caught him to the native doctor? I asked the man why he didn't recommend his son who was also qualified for the Job. He said, after him, none of his family member will work there. He painted a picture of a toxic environment.

I didn't return again for the interview. Irrespective of the salary, that place would have been hell for me.

As a Hr personnel, don’t you think they are also going through hell with him?
I’m also talking about every person irregardless of position applying besides, I’m a tough nut to crack as I’m not just a hr generalist. I understand peoples position on hr personnel’s being on the side of the company but I assume that if the company can do evil things to employees, those same hands will touch me.

GloriousGbola:
all this is story.

you think that Ebun's company does not have sound , well written policies on bullying, whistle blowing etc?

you think they dont have an HR department [by the way - HR is not your friend. the main role of HR is to PROTECT the company from employees]

as to workplace toxicity - people who do not work directly with Ebun may have different stories about him. to them he may just be the driven oga. CEOs fall into the seven professions mostly likely to have psychopaths. so in several other forums, EBun will be looking like a charming down to earth guy.

unless there is a major incident - you will be thoroughly shielded during your workplace interview from the actual corporate culture.

if anything you are more likely to be bowled over, esp if you're young at talking to some superstar ceo.

no be today? who remembers access bank it shall not be well with them ceo. dude was so petty, he actually had IT forensics guys track down just who shared that nasty email



this is it. and even then, some people still thrive there. so i would be wary about giving advise. there are people in that office that have completely jelled with that Ebun fellow and can work with him. they may even respond right back. Bleep you too man , butt heads and do power handshakes

brosom:
Hello Mr Op good evening, sorry to bother u but I would love ur take on this I'll be sharing with u.

There's this telecommunication company I applied for a work few months ago,(A SUBSIDIARY TO THE MAIN COMPANY). It happened that received a texted to come for an interview on 25th of February last month.

I went for the first interview, few days later I got a text that I was successful at the first interview and have been scheduled for another one.

On that said day of the second interview I met with the CEO, he asked me to write a shot detail of what I applied for, where I worked last, reason why I left, what I can do, reason why a fellow colleague might dislike me, my last salary and how much I would like to be paid. I wrote all that was requested of me and proceeds to be interviewed, after the whole session I left.

Few days later again I got a message that reads,:- good evening, please kindly check ur mail for an online zoom training. I check and I saw a link to join the zoom training a day after I received the email.

I joined the zoom training through the link I was sent, met some other people and few coordinators. The training was about what they are really in to and how it works, the whole session lasted for good 4 hours 30minutes, before the end I asked a question on how I'll be engaged and the tools of my work because it appears I was successfull during the whole interview session which is why they sent me a link to be part of their training, and I was told that I'll be communicated back to.

Ever since then I've not heard from them, but I do get messages from them that always refer me to check my mail, like a kind of update.

So my question is why take so long to resume work probably? And is there still hope about the job or should I just move on because it's been a month now since the first interview.

I'm worried

I would advise you keep searching for a job.
You are not employed in an organization till you get an offer letter and an employment contract that seals your agreement with the organization.
Don’t let them play hanky lanky with your emotions.

mysticgal:
Uh, me?

You did. Didn't you?

Around 2015.

iCauseTrouble:
Bad work place environment is really bad for mental health. It leads to burnout, fatigue, tiredness and depression. It also kills morale and self-confidence.
This is why I advocate for everyone to seek financial independence through entrepreneurship.
This way, you can be in control and do things the way it pleases you.

Not everyone is cut out for business.

Alwayshungry:
Always look at their shoes..

If they are wearing cheap shoes.
Be prepared for a battle.

Lols