Red Flags in “Dream Job” Culture
“Dream job” can be a disguise. The merch looks great; the stories sound shiny; the reality is unpaid overtime, vague promises, and leaders who love your passion more than your wellbeing. Here’s how to read the fine print before your energy is the price.
Top Red Flags (Translate the Marketing)
- “We’re a family.” Often means boundary-blur and loyalty tests.
- “We hustle hard.” Code for no resourcing, no planning, no recovery.
- “We need rockstars.” Glamour job, grunt support—rarely sustainable.
- “Unlimited PTO.” Without norms = no PTO.
- “Grow fast here.” With no ladder, mentor, or budget? That’s a wish.
Interview Questions That Reveal Reality
- “What were your last three deadlines? How did you protect recovery after them?”
- “Who decides scope vs. timeline when they conflict? Show me a recent example.”
- “What will success look like at 30/90 days? What resources are already committed?”
- “How many people were promoted internally last year? To what roles?”
- “When someone says no, what happens?”
Offer-Stage Checks
- Write it down: goals, owner, budget, timeline.
- Manager interview: alignment on feedback style and meeting load.
- Backchannel: ask a former employee how decisions really get made.
During the Job: Early Warning Signs
- Success is defined by hours online, not outcomes.
- Leaders love “urgents” but skip planning and retros.
- Pushback equals disloyalty; “family” used to silence concerns.
Scripts to Protect Yourself
- Scope: “To hit Friday, we’ll move Y to next sprint—agree?”
- Boundaries: “I’m offline 7–9 for deep work; urgent = call.”
- Recovery: “After this release, I’m booking Tuesday morning for post-mortem and cleanup.”
When to Leave (And How)
- Values clash + blocked growth for a quarter.
- No feedback loops; decisions by vibes.
- Your body keeps the receipts: insomnia, dread, sickness.
Exit with a portfolio: outcomes, lessons, references. Your sanity is not an overreaction.
Final Thoughts
A real dream job respects your limits and your time. If the brand is louder than the boundaries, believe the red flags—and believe yourself.
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