Applying for jobs - red flags

[Peachylass]

I have just left an extremely toxic workplace and am looking for a new job possibly in a new sector outside my network.
I was thinking it’s a bit like online dating - they all say the right things to draw you in etc, and on reflection there were a few little red flags i maybe should have listened to (but you do also have to take a leap of faith).
I just wondered if anyone had any advice for what might be red flags when you apply or have an interview?

• sorry if this is in the wrong category work doesn’t seem to attract much comment
• if there’s already a thread like this please can you send the link
• I know sites like Indeed have company reviews but I’ve been on both sides of that and it’s hard to believe they are ever honest/without an agenda.

No salary advertised.
Messing you about with interview arrangements if you do apply.
Any reference to the job being more of a drain or emotional commitment than the advertised duties would imply- i.e. needing you to 'go the extra mile' or whatever. No, pay me fairly for a day's work.
Wanting far more for their money than is expected e.g. loads of experience for a basic admin job.
Family business or small startup- just my personal preference but I want a proper HR and grievance structure just in case there's a problem.
Silly or trying-to-catch-you-out questions at interview. In one, I was asked to solve a really tricky maths problem with an obscure equation (not given). It wasn't really a mathematics related role. It was just a test to see how you would handle having to admit you didn't know something.

There are a few that spring to mind:

Listing legal requirements as benefits. Yes, thank you for giving me 20 days off and a pension contribution. 🙄

Not stating the salary, or having a ridiculously broad range e.g. £30-60k ‘dependant on experience’.

Seeing the same role advertised for months on end. They always want the moon on a stick.

Poor Glassdoor reviews, anything below 3.5 stars rings alarm bells for me.

Depends on your role/industry, but a lack of clarity about remote/hybrid working arrangements. This seems to be a huge problem in my industry.

Do some LinkedIn stalking of people who worked there previously. It’s interesting to see how long people spent there before moving on.

In an interview, giving ‘fluffy’ answers that don’t actually answer your questions. Either they don’t know enough about the role they’re hiring for, or they’re just not putting enough effort in.

Poor communication or a lack of communication during the hiring process. I’ve pulled out of great opportunities because of this a few times.

"Fast paced environment" is a red flag for me

‘Opportunity to earn’ is a big fuck no. Anything that describes being obliged to work outside of core hours as well.

Quite a lot. A more interesting question would be 'and why would you want to?'

I'd second having a look on LinkedIn to see how long people are there and whether they get promoted. Also useful to see what training people have and what they post about.

Advertising a wide range of roles for the same company site or repeated for the same role month after month

There's a company very local to me that does this. I applied for a fairly straigthforward admin role because it's five minutes walk away - I had all the skills but was turned down for 'no relevant experience' (they hadn't asked for any and anyway were giving full training). A few days later they came back to me and asked if I was still interested. On being told I was the 'salary negotiable' turned out not to be and they were making an offer the same day anyway (so go figure why HR contacted me). Months later they are still advertising the same job.

That's not an interesting question... perhaps?

An interesting question might be, who is loading them? Is there a time limit? Why are we putting them in a
bus and not a coach.

Great advice- thanks