Warning signs!
If you are out of work and have spent a lot of time and effort contacting employers, taking the first job that is offered to you can be very tempting. Turning down a job can be difficult even when you are not under pressure. There always seems to be that nagging feeling that there won’t be another opportunity. No matter how hard it may be, some jobs should be turned down. Here are some warning signs that a job may not be the job for you.
1. The employer appears impatient with requests you make. If an employer doesn’t want to take the time to listen to your concerns and to address them, this may be an indicator of the type of relationship you will have with the employer on the job. Proceed with caution.
2. There is a lot of turnover at this stable or business. A lot of turnover may indicate that the employer does not know how to hire and keep good help. It may indicate other problems. Or, it may simply indicate that the employer needs your help to do a better job of hiring. Proceed with caution.
3. You don’t agree with the goals of the company. No matter how good the job and how savvy the employer, if you don’t like the way business is being conducted, or you don’t share the philosophy of the company, you are not likely to be happy in the long run.
4. The employer has unrealistic expectations about what you can do. If an employer does not understand how much work a person can do in one day, or thinks you can wave a magic wand save a failing business, you should not take the job.
5. The employer is not willing to pay you a realistic wage. If the salary being offered is not enough to meet your regular expenses, you should not take the job.
6. The employer wants to pay you in cash or treat you as an independent contractor. Very few regular jobs in the horse industry are independent contractor positions. If an employer does not pay social security and does not withhold income taxes, they are probably violating the law. Don’t take the job.
7. The horses and facilities are not well cared for. If this is the condition of things, there are probably other problems. Don’t take the job.
