How To Tell If It’s A Dead-End Job

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Do you have the sneaking suspicion that you’re interviewing for a dead-end job? Not sure how to tell? Here are the top 10 signs you should run for the door after an interview. If you see even a hint of any of these signs, it’s a dead-end job.

Number 10: The position for which you are interviewing is vacant for a long time. Well-run companies don’t create vacancies. Before letting someone go or sensing if someone wants to go, they will be ready with a replacement.

Number 9: When asked how the company measures its success in the market, the interviewer offered a self-constructed analysis based purely on unclear assumption, meaning… he’s making it up!

Number 8: Interviewer could offer only vague generalizations about where the company would like to be, concluding with, “Hey, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.” The correct thinking: Better improve it before someone else does.

Number 7: When you bring up Internet Marketing or SEO his or her eyes start to close.

Number 6: When asked who they feel are their main competitors, you’re fed the old unsubstantiated line, “We don’t have any.”

Number 5: When you ask how the position has changed over the years the response is, “It hasn’t.”

Number 4: When you ask the interviewer to tell you something about the particulars of the job you hear, “Very steady work; lots of job security.” In other words, you’re not going anywhere from here!

Number 3: When you ask if the interviewer has any tips before you leave and he or she says, “Just make sure you have some fun out there.”

Number 2: When you ask the interviewer, your would-be boss, how long he or she has been in their job and you hear, “Since the company started.”

And finally, THE NUMBER 1 REASON YOU WILL KNOW IT’S A DEAD-END JOB AND SHOULD HIGH-TAIL IT TO THE DOOR… When asked if happy with where the company is today, he or she replies, “Hey, it pays the bill at the Club and keeps the kids in tennis lessons!”

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

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12 Comments

1. 

   ANN

   March 15, 2012 at 3:08 PM

   I really like the article in fact it says in so many words to those who want to stay on their jobs and those who have to pay the bills and this is where they want to be at this time. Nothing last forever.

   Reply
2. 

   Bert

   March 12, 2012 at 7:26 PM

   In response, I’d have to say: “Any port, in a storm”, and right now, it’s still a bit stormy out there, in career-land, not every job is going to bring you a high level of personal fulfillment, or train you to be a million-dollar CEO or whathaveyou. Sometimes, jobs just need doing, and bills need to be paid, and you’re the magic connection between the two circumstances, acting on your own behalf to access income through working for someone else. And, that’s the ugly, rusty reality of the situation.

   If you’re serious about having ‘a career’, then it’s time to do some reading, writing, and thinking, and maybe some serious study, to improve your personal skillset and general ability to access information, and make some Hard Choices, including leaving your current employer and possibly traveling far, far away to get into better circumstances. If the area you live in is economically depressed, you’re probably depressed, too, about the prospect of having to pack a suitcase and go somewhere else and basically start over. But, if that’s what the situation requires, then your ‘fulfillment’ etc. will probably take place on the far end of the relocation or career change process, because sometimes, what needs changing isn’t your location, it’s your vocation. If your skillset is not in demand, or is so esoteric or specialized as to generally preclude you from getting considered for employment, then you’re gonna have to learn some new ones.

   Take some time, test the waters, smell the roses, read, and do some thinking. Some jobs will only just be jobs. Jobs that need doing, aren’t glamorous, don’t pay very much money, but might pay the bills if you’re lucky. People change jobs about every 2-3 years, anymore. Careers were things that people did for 10-20 years, and they could retire. Today, there’s people in their 70′s still clocking in where they can find some kind of opportunity. IF they can find an opportunity. Competition’s liable to get tougher, and stay that way. Ultimately, which side of the white picket fence do YOU want to be sleeping on? 8+% unemployement, and that’s IF you believe the government statistics as they’re recorded…?

   Reply
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     Del

     March 15, 2012 at 1:17 PM

     Amen, well said!

     Reply
3. 

   Fabrizio

   August 23, 2011 at 1:26 PM

   Good points made here, love number 5. Thanks!

   Reply
4. 

   Scott C Griffin

   December 15, 2010 at 3:59 PM

   What if your job BECOMES a dead-end? There should be an article for the “Top 10 Reasons to Run” and how!

   Reply
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     Rob

     December 15, 2010 at 5:34 PM

     Great Point, Scott. Maybe I can consider doing that as a follow-up. Thanks for that idea.

     Rob

     Reply
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       Anonymous

       January 27, 2012 at 6:12 PM

       I would love to see that article, because that’s where I’m at right now!

       Been trying to leave for a long time with no luck. :(

       Reply
5. 

   Stephen O'Donnell

   January 6, 2010 at 12:56 PM

   That's rubbish.

   Reply
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     Adam Dobkin

     January 21, 2012 at 9:29 AM

     Why did you reply that it is rubbish. What specifically is rubbish? Is it the whole list of reasons or are there single reasons why you would answer that way?

     Please explain and expound on your reasoning for your answer of that’s rubbish.

     Reply
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     ANN

     March 15, 2012 at 2:54 PM

     What are talking about? “That’s rubbish.” You don’t know a great writing when you see it. This is good advice for those who are in a dead end job and can better themselves. If they chose to stay than that’s their business,but some others have no othe choice. We have to pay the bills.

     Reply
6. 

   Michelle Primeaux

   September 18, 2009 at 12:55 PM

   Good advice! Thanks!

   Reply
7. 

   adoyle

   September 16, 2009 at 6:12 PM

   Great article. Placed on my Facebook page for others to read and hopefully wake up.

   Reply