Navigating Red Flags in the Procurement Job Market

The procurement job description seems like it was written just for you. The initial interview went well. Perhaps the company has made an attractive offer, with a genuinely competitive salary and benefits package. Still, it feels like something is just not right about the opportunity. Your subconscious may be telling you about some red flags that mean the job or company may not be as good as it looks.

Author Malcolm Gladwell laid it out in his book ‘Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking.’ He highlighted the science behind what seems like snap decisions based on limited information. It can feel like intuition or a gut feeling. You can’t put words to why something doesn’t seem to add up. You feel red flags flying and don’t want to proceed.

The original use of red flags stems from weather or danger alerts, like a red flag at a beach or a red flag on a sinking ship. You may not know the problem, but the red flag is supposed to protect you from harm.

Today, a red flag is a signal about a problem that you may not know the reason for, but your gut feeling is to avoid the danger. A job red flag may be obvious or obscure, but in either case, proceed with caution.

If you’re wondering if a job opportunity is right for you, here are a few red flags to think about before moving forward.

Company reputation

Tony Megally, Director of  Partnerships at specialist procurement recruitment firm, The Source, advised “Don’t always buy into the hype, but make sure to do your research! Our profession is a closely-knit and supportive community. Reach out to trusted networks within the company to gain insights into its culture, leadership, and work environment. Even if you don’t have any direct connections, there’s a good chance someone you know does. The more information you gather, the better-informed you will be.” 

Lack of transparency

As with a company’s reputation, it may take some investigation to learn about a company’s culture beyond the mission statement on the website. You can ask about issues in interviews.

‘Use online tools to get a good understanding of employer culture, turnover rates, management philosophies, and more,’ says Jason Leverant, president and CEO of AtWork, a staffing franchise in the US. ‘The old adage ‘where there’s smoke, there’s fire’ applies here, so if you see red flags through your research, ask questions to specifically address your concerns and the red flags you see online with the hiring manager.’

Ask about headcount, turnover, average tenure, and growth opportunities to get a sense of what your future could hold if you take the job.

Salary disclosure

Regulations vary around the globe on disclosing salaries in job postings. In the US, some states require the company to post a pay range based on experience. However, the ranges are usually so broad they’re useless, e.g., $70,000-$150,000. Sure, there are cost of living considerations based on location and other issues. For a job seeker looking to level up their salary, it’s no better than a guess.

Job reposted

If every few weeks, you see a posting for a procurement analyst at the same company for the same locations, there may be a problem. The salary may not be competitive; the manager may be impossible; the position description may not be accurate; whatever the cause, think twice about applying for that hard-to-fill position.

Vague job description

A broad, non-specific description means the position hasn’t been well thought out or maybe a catch-all. You could be stuck doing all the tasks no one else wants to do. The role may actually entail doing manager-level work for individual contributor pay. Ask for a big-picture overview of the day-to-day activities and expectations and where you may be able to seek growth opportunities.

Culture clash in the interview

Remember, you’re interviewing the company as much as they are interviewing you. You should be treated professionally and politely. If the HR folks seem rude or rushed, take note. If the hiring manager hasn’t reviewed your resume before the interview and simply reads it to you, they are not respecting you or your time. Sure, anyone can be running behind or trying to do too many things at once. But it can be a sign of poor time management skills from your potential boss.

Of course, any racist, sexist, or phobic remarks should be an immediate black flag and a sign to cross that company off your list.

An interview is the time for everyone to put their best foot forward. If they can’t do that for the interview, what will they be like to work with?

Employee turnover

Get a sense of the outlook for the company and the particular position. Ask the interviewers why the position is open. If it’s due to promotion, that’s a good sign. If they say something like, ‘We can’t keep anyone for more than a few months’, that’s a major red flag.

Watch how the hiring manager and HR person interact or answer this question separately. The hiring manager is much more likely to give you an honest response.

Even if you’re highly motivated to land a job, don’t rush it. Everything may look OK on paper, but you’re uncomfortable moving forward. Listen to your intuition when it comes to pursuing an open position or accepting an offer. You can avoid making a mistake in the blink of an eye.