To think I shouldn't be fussy about picking a job if I'm unemployed?

[needajob09]

I'm unemployed with a 9 month career gap for various reasons. I have 4 interviews this week for the same/similar positions but at different companies. I'm grateful to have even been given an interview as I know a career gap is pretty frowned upon, and I know how awful the current job market is.

The thing is I'm not sure if I'm being naive/dumb to ignore red flags. For example:

• One of the jobs is at a tiny company (<10 employees), and completely remote. Because it's such a small and new company there are no employee reviews available online so I don't know what it's like to work there. It's also a 'private' company (I don't know what that means)
• Another has consistently bad Glassdoor reviews from people who I would be working with and people with the same job title I'd have saying it's a toxic, bullying culture with toxic management. This was the role I'm most interested in but the reviews are putting me off... I did interview with this company a couple of years ago and found the interviewers seemed rude and disinterested (despite giving me a job offer after which I declined)

The other 2 have average Glassdoor reviews and are average roles, nothing particularly standout about them. High workloads, long hours and the expectation to work late but that's pretty standard for the area of work I'm in.

Do you think I should just go for all of these opportunities as I am unemployed or would that be a mistake?

The second one would be a complete no. The others I’d go to.

Is the first a limited company? How long has it been trading? I’d look at the accounts of all companies too to see how reserves and cashflows stack.

I'd go for them all, you're more employable whilst in a job.

Go to the interviews, do more research and then choose between offers if you get more than one.

I have had several career breaks, they weren’t frowned upon, although I was never asked, I was prepared with a positive answer. It is actually a benefit to them as you won’t need to hand in notice so you will be able to start sooner than other candidates. Good luck.

The second I would go to the interview and be asking them about their toxic culture and what they’re doing about it. Remember you’re interviewing them as much as you’re interviewing you. Ultimately how you bond with the interviewer will speak volumes.

I'd go to them all, and take the 2nd company if that's all I got offered.

As a pp says, it's easier to get another job once you are employed. I would be grateful to be back in work, and if you discover for yourself that it's a toxic environment then look for something else.

I’d give number 2 a swerve but would definitely give the others a go. You can always keep looking if you end up somewhere you don’t like - you’re not obliged to stay. Don’t worry too much about the career break either - almost everyone I know has one and it hasn’t noticeably held them back. Good luck!