In psychology, burnout is the experience of long-term exhaustion and diminished interest, especially in one’s career. If you consistently follow our discussions, the term ‘burnout’ may not be new. There’s an article titled, “You are not lazy, it could be burnout: 6 signs of burnout”. Burnout has become a serious global issue. Sadly some have normalized it, whilst others have no idea they are experiencing it. Burnout is no joke because it has been found to cause depression and a host of other mental health issues. You must check whether or not you will experience it before accepting a job offer. Here is how to assess the likelihood of burnout before accepting a job offer:
Scrutinize The Job Ads
It all starts with the job ads; closely assess their contents. You will notice some warning signs. Toxicity is so easy to notice, even when masked by flowery language. You will see lots of job ads being riddled with, e.g. you will be working with a high-performance team, or we champion a high-performance company culture. In some cases, they may even say you will operate handling agile and high-stress projects. You may have heard of terms like We are looking for a digital marketing rock star. You may also notice a ridiculously long list of requirements. (This can also extend to what you will be expected to do if hired). Let me give an example of a job ad for a Digital Marketer position:
We are looking to hire a digital marketer with 6 years of experience in PPC, SEO, Email Marketing, Branding, Social Media Management and Marketing, Content Strategy, Facebook Community Management, Influencer Marketing, PR, Graphic Design, and Videography.
Those elements individually constitute whole roles, yet they are expected to be catered for by one person. That will show you how swamped you would be if you got the job. Plus, you will no doubt not get paid enough. I know in Zimbabwe, it seems normal to find job ads without salaries or salary ranges. The absence of such is usually a sure sign you may experience burnout. It is the case for most working at places with job ads devoid of salary details. Another indicator can be a job that has been repeatedly posted over time. That could be an indicator the role is not getting interested applicants. That would probably imply there is a reason people are ignoring it. The signs are many, but these few examples were meant to paint the picture for you.
Scrutinize The Overall Hiring Process
More signs will be evident in the overall hiring process. That is to suggest that maybe the job ad was okay. It could also be that you may have just applied despite there being signs in the job ad. Toxic employers often cannot hide their nature when dealing with prospective employees. You will notice their tone, choice of words and lack of respect. They may also ignore your emails or messages; they may respond late. Another sign is them being too pushy. Understandably, there could be urgency, but you can tell when it is too much. I have also been asked to complete many paperwork or forms. That is even before you have been shortlisted or are sure of getting the job. That can be a sign as well. Right up to the actual interview, check for these dynamics. Especially if your score can interview; you would notice lots by then. Do not let your guard down, though. The interview can be laden with aspects you can check for unambiguous signs. It reminds me of an article about handling tough interviewers like a pro. We cannot exhaust all the possible signs to look out for. The few I have highlighted can guide you on what to look for.
NB: Never ever compromise your well-being (especially your physical and mental health) for a career. Like Olivia Kram aptly says, “It can be tempting in our goal-oriented society to push ourselves beyond our capacities in pursuit of success. But when we do this, we tell ourselves that our work is more important than our health. Without our health, our success means nothing. No promotion, raise, or accolade will mean anything if you are not happy and healthy”.
You should check for these signs before accepting a job offer. I have seen many people quitting jobs due to burnout despite, at times, being paid well. Burnout is no pleasant experience; ask those who have grappled with it first-hand. It is usually caused by being overworked. This is usually coupled with little to no control or autonomy over your work. This is often worsened by being poorly remunerated or even appreciated. You seldom have a support system. Being treated unfairly is typically the order of the day. These are some of the core causes of burnout. If you see any indications of burnout, please do yourself a favour and disregard the job offer.
