A Job Offer Can Feel Like a Lifeline. Not Every One Is Worth Taking.

Even after months of searching, the hardest (and bravest) decision can be to walk away.

I talk to people every week who've been out of work for six, nine, even twelve months. They're tired, stressed and starting to believe any job is better than no job.

I get it - sometimes you do need a stopgap role to stabilise things.

But even in those moments, there are red flags that should make you pause before signing the contract:

The job on paper doesn't match what was discussed during interviews. The salary is well below market, with only vague "growth potential. The interview process was chaotic or dismissive of your time, and communication has been challenging. You're being pressured to accept immediately (perhaps the biggest red flag). The role expects you to do everything with little support.

When faced with one (or worse still) several of these, ask yourself:

Will this move me forward - or just further away from what I want?

Saying yes when something doesn't feel right can create new problems: you might end up in a role that stalls your growth, damages your confidence, or forces you back into the job market sooner than you think.

But if you truly feel you have no choice right now, that's okay too. Just go in with a plan. Keep your job search active from day one. Build relationships, update your skills, and treat the role as a bridge - not a destination. That way, when the right opportunity comes along, you're ready to move towards it without starting from zero.