💥 Are you a recent graduate? More experienced worker? No matter. These are things to look out for before you walk through the door of your new job:
There's a ping pong table and foosball, but I haven't seen anyone playing since I've been there. The corporate "extras" only count if they're actually used - otherwise they're just a dust trap in a pretty window. A really good workplace is not one with lots of colourful puff, but one where you have someone to turn to and if you make a mistake, they don't pass the buck, they work with you to find a solution.
The atmosphere, the team dynamics, the day-to-day communication says more than any employer branding campaign. Make sure that:
- how supportive the environment is,
- how colleagues talk about each other,
- and the atmosphere of a meeting.
Because real workplace culture is not written on the wall - it can be felt.
✅ Things to think about:
- Mentoring during your probationary period: Do they get a mentor alongside the entrants? Is there structured training?
- Check out the company's community pages:
- Do employees really post there, or is it just the marketing department?
- How natural or artificial is the communication?
- Is there real life behind company profiles?
- Ask how you'll know you're doing a good job: Is there regular feedback, recognition?
- Also ask about the team: When was the last team builder? How is the turnover?
- Work-life balance: Their answers tell you a lot about this - if they are embarrassed, it is suspicious.
🚩 Red flags if you hear or experience these:
- "Here, everyone fits in immediately" is not onboarding.
- "We don't post much about ourselves" - maybe there's nothing to post.
- They only emphasise the salary, but they don't know how you can improve.
- They don't know who to ask during your probationary period
- "In our company, sometimes we stay a little longer..." - If overtime is mentioned in the job interview, it can be a warning sign.
+1 tip, which is not a redflag, but all the more important:
The probationary period is not only for the employer. It's your time too. Don't be afraid to ask questions, give feedback and say no if you have to. Before you start work, make a list of what your ideal job looks like. At the end of your trial period, review it again: does what you got match what you were looking for? And did you do everything you could to have a good time?
A good job is not only hard to find - it also needs to be built. Start building from day one.
Thank you for the photo! 💛
Zoltán Kovács
Thank you for the organisation and the invitation! 🫶
Kovács Bálint
