How to recognize the “burnout culture” in a company before applying for a job

Where does burnout come from?

Burnout is state physical and emotional exhaustion. It is normal to feel overwhelmed and tired from work from time to time. But if these feelings become constant despite your best efforts to deal with them, you may be experiencing burnout, and the problem lies in the corporate culture.

Researchers allocate Top 6 causes of burnout at work:

• unstable load;
• a perceived lack of control;
• insufficient reward for efforts;
• lack of support from others;
• injustice;
• mismatch of values ​​and skills.

If you've ever worked anywhere, you've most likely experienced all of this. Some managers either do not notice or do not attach any importance to the fact that subordinates are constantly in a state of stress, depression or anger. Some people even seem to like it. But in the early stages of a job search, the signs of a toxic burnout culture often go unnoticed. The following tips will help you recognize dangerous signals.

How to Spot the Signs of a Burnout Culture

In the job description

To assume with a high degree of probability that burnout awaits you in the company, certain words, phrases and other “beacons” in ads help. Here are some examples:

• A culture of high performance. There are employees who thrive in high-demand demanding jobs, but most need a supportive environment to stay productive for more than a couple of months.
• Stress resistance. If the job description mentions stressIt is better to stay away from the employer. Particularly, wordings like “the ability to work in a stressful situation” should alert. This means that the company is aware of employee burnout, but believes that the problem is in people, and not in working conditions.
• Ability to work under pressure. Not an option for the same reasons as stress tolerance.
• We are looking for a "rock star" or "ninja". Such a phrase does not belong in an ad unless Metallica is looking for a new bass player. Real rock stars aren't great at paperwork, Q1 meetings, and team building sessions every Wednesday. Like the ninja. Employers using such descriptions do not seem to have a clear idea of ​​what kind of employee they require. And it sounds like they need someone they can just use to their advantage.
• We are Family. Such a phrase may indicate that there are no boundaries in the team. The family does not pay you money to come home and to the celebrations, but requires fidelity and devotion of a different kind, which the employer cannot demand.
• No mention of salary. This may mean that the company does not open and a fair wage system. And when it comes to working in an office with no flexible hours, there are likely to be trust issues as well.
• "Eternal" offer. If you see the same vacancy that appears regularly or does not close for a long time, then either the vacancy is not real, or the job is so unpleasant that no one agrees to it.

In the process of employment

Employers who are looking for stress-resistant “ninja” accountants are actually saving time for thoughtful job seekers, because they immediately make it clear that they should not send resumes. But often toxic companies are well disguised, and it looks like they are offering a normal position in a regular office. Dangerous "calls" appear only in the process of employment.

Employee reviews, for example, on HeadHunter, other thematic sites or social networks, will help to collect truthful information about the company. If with corporate culture something is wrong, most likely, someone has already spoken about it publicly.

The process that precedes the interview also speaks volumes. Unprofessional or downright rude emails and late responses can indicate company chaos and disrespect for job seekers, or both. Confusion about what responsibilities you have to perform, lack of clarity about who you can talk to about it or when and where the interview will take place are also signs of disorganization, and disorganized offices are often filled with burnt-out employees.

Another red flag is that you are invited for an interview unreasonably quickly. This may indicate problems with planning in the company, and if you still agree to work in it, you will have to put out endless fires.

At the interview

This stage is your chance to really explore the company environment and get a feel for how you fit into it. But first you need to pay attention to the general atmosphere. Do employees look happy? Does anyone in the waiting room whisper "run" to you?

There are working conditions that demoralize everyone without exception. And there are those that are great for one employee and terrify another. Therefore, at the interview, you should ask about what seriously worries you. This statement is trite, but it is true: you "interview» company in the same way as she interviews you.

Experts advise ask questions related to each of the six causes of burnout at work. For example:

• How long is the standard working time? How often do employees work weekends? How does the company prioritize tasks and avoid overload? (Unstable workload.)
• Can I decide on my own when to do my work during the day? How does the company allocate tasks and set deadlines? (Lack of control.)
• What criteria do you need to meet to get promoted? How often do employees move to a higher position? Does the company pay for training courses? (Insufficient reward.)
• How do you give employees feedback? How does the company deal with conflict? How would you describe the general mood in the team? (Lack of support.)
• What are the company's criteria for assessing employees? Who reviews and how promotion? (Injustice.)
• How does the position relate to the mission of the company? How does the work of the team influence the goals of the company? (A mismatch of values ​​and skills.)

If the answers to questions seem too vague, feel free to ask for specific examples. Even if a question makes you uncomfortable, it's worth asking. For example: “What do you do if an employee makes a mistake?”

Listen carefully to the responses and look for signs of evasiveness, impatience, and dishonesty. When you ask specific questions, you should get simple answers. If your question came as a surprise and the interlocutor does not know what to say, you should hear a polite “I will find out everything and I will definitely pass it on to you”, and then really get an answer.

There is no perfect job. Burnout can overtake you even in the most beautiful position in the most beautiful office. But the more attentive you are when applying for a job, the more likely you are to find a job where it does not threaten you in the first months.