Stop Applying to Jobs You Know Nothing About

You found a job posting that matches your skills. The title looks good. The salary seems reasonable. Your finger hovers over the "Apply" button.

Stop.

Before you spend time tailoring your resume, writing a cover letter, and investing emotional energy into this opportunity—spend 15 minutes figuring out if this is actually a job you want.

The Quick Disqualifiers

Before you go deep, check these deal-breakers first:

Glassdoor Overall Rating Anything below 3.0 is a red flag. Between 3.0-3.5, proceed with caution.

Recent Layoffs A quick search for "[Company name] layoffs" tells you a lot.

Funding Situation For startups, check Crunchbase. When was their last funding round?

The 15-Minute Research Routine

1. The Company (5 minutes)

• What they actually do
• Recent news
• Their business model

2. The Role (5 minutes)

• Who you'd report to
• Team size and structure
• Growth potential

3. The Culture (5 minutes)

• Glassdoor reviews (read at least 5)
• LinkedIn posts from employees
• The interview process

Red Flags That Should Make You Pause

• High turnover in the role
• Mismatched seniority (Senior title, Junior responsibilities)
• Vague job descriptions
• Recent negative press

The Interview Advantage

Candidates who research stand out dramatically. When you ask "I noticed you recently acquired X—how does this role fit into that strategy?" you demonstrate genuine interest and business acumen.

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