To think this is a potential red flag (job advert)

[MrsBennetsPoorNerves]

I am not actually job hunting at the moment...I might want to move on in a year or two, but I would ideally like a bit longer in my current role in order to see some stuff through that I have started. However, a friend has sent me a job advert for a role that looks perfect for me on paper, and I'll admit that I am tempted.

However, having done a bit of research, I can see that neither of the previous post holders have stayed for long at all.... one for just over a year and a half and the other for around 9 months. It is the kind of role/sector where I would usually expect someone to stay for at least a few years. On both occasions, there has been an interim person covering the role in between appointments, so 4 different people doing the role in around 3 years.

Would this ring alarm bells with you?

Or am I just being paranoid?

It definitely would for me. I applied for a job with a similar history and didn't get it but I later, by coincidence, met one of the former job holders who had been there about 18 months and he told me what a horror show it was.

Thanks @mynameiscalypso. That kind of confirms my thoughts. Just weighing up whether or not it is worth investing the time that it would take to put an application together.... might be a poisoned chalice!

I regularly see the same role come up with the same organisation in my sector, and I wonder why that’s the case. So yes the turnover would concern me, although if it seems like a perfect fit on paper you could always apply and explore it a bit more if you get invited along to interview.

Yes I would be concerned about that. My husband was once bullied horrendously at work, he was even put on a performance improvement plan which I read and it made no sense at all. He had previously and since, only ever been extremely well regarded at work. Six years later and there have been five more people in that role.

Thanks @batsandeggs. You're right, I could explore it more if I'm invited to interview, which I'm pretty confident I would be. Just trying to decide if it's worth the investment of time and effort!

I think you are right to be cautious; the only way you will get the unvarnished truth is to find out from somebody who doesn't have to keep former employers sweet in case they need a reference!
People who are unhappy in their job hesitate to badmouth, in my experience of teaching. It is usually perfectly possible, especially for a teacher with a good track record, to find a good reason for a changing jobs, which is where the grapevine comes into play.
A friend of mine left a teaching post in very acrimonious circumstances, right up to union intervention, and heard later that the post was eventually filled by somebody from outside the area, who soon moved on when reality hit. Other people closer at hand, who spotted the job advertisement, asked around; a sure indicator of a brilliant school is one who takes care of their supply teachers!

Absolutely a red flag and you are lucky to have found out now.

I am in a fairly new job and only realised once I had already started that there is a major issue with this company when it comes to staff recruitment and retention.

Two people in my team resigned within two months of me starting, both had only had been in the job for about 3 months.

I was told the person before me resigned due to ''personal issues'' at the interview stage. Turns out they were off for months for health reasons and I am thinking this had to do with stress/the workload being impossible to deliver.

I also heard about another former employee who was bullied and left because of this. Recently another new employee left after 2 weeks.

Even the HR person is moving on to a new role.

I am seeing the same pattern of bullying starting towards me me as a couple of people have started to undermine me.

Some companies just have toxic workplaces and high staff turnover is usually a big clue. I would avoid them.

I am job-hunting again to get out as quickly as possible...

Huge red flag. I would not apply.

I'd Google the company and see if any former employees have done a company review on any sites like Glassdoor.

I wouldn’t trust it. Are there any reviews on Glassdoor or Indeed? There’s quite a specialist job that comes up every 12-18 months near me. Without fail, I get a call from a recruiter (different one every time) enthusing about the dog friendly office and hands on CEO. Their Glassdoor reviews are awful and it sounds like everyone is micromanaged and miserable. But they do get to take their dog to work I guess.

That is the kind of "job offer" where at a picked time of day I'd be phoning the current holder of the post with some relevant and carefully designed enquiries about the post..... leading to a little friendly off-the-record chat and (with luck) some indiscretions.

It would ring alarm bells to me, hope one of the suggestions that you can research is possible.

I wish I'd have queried why people left the job I'm in now after 9 -12 months (6 staff have gone after 9-12 months).

there's no cover for lunch so I sit at my desk and eat and I cannot refuse to answer calls, visitor or staff requests. I cannot leave the area cos of the above requests. Used to be cover but he left in July last year.

Everything and I mean everything has to go via the manager - send standard letters out (change of date is all) manager HAS to see it! It's a standard letter but NO they have to have a look - and then they wait until the last half hour of the day before approving it and then it takes ages to send out and translated to X and Y and Z languages. Can't even translate before because they will no doubt one tiny sentence!!! Sods law

it's bloody awful. I like the company but jobs in the company are few and far between every one that comes up I apply cos I want to be away from the daily bullshit.

how I don't phone in sick is beyond me it is really is.