Trust Your Gut (a.k.a. Don’t Take the Job You Know You’ll Hate)

I’ll admit it: I knew better.

Before my last role, I did the homework.

I read the Glassdoor reviews.

I asked around.

The red flags weren’t just waving — they were doing the Macarena.

And still… I ignored my gut and said yes.

Why? Because I told myself all the usual lies:

Maybe it won’t be that bad.

Maybe I can make it work.

Maybe I’m overthinking this.

Spoiler alert: I was not overthinking it. Toxic is toxic. And no amount of optimism, grit, or caffeine can fix a workplace where the culture is rotten.

What I Learned (the hard way)

• Trust your gut. It’s smarter than your excuses.

• A paycheck isn’t worth your sanity. Bills matter, but so does sleeping at night.

• Culture matters just as much as the job description. You can love the work and still hate your life if the environment is toxic.

I don’t regret the experience (every scar is a lesson, right?). But I do wish I’d listened to myself sooner.

So if you’re on the fence about a role, here’s my unsolicited advice: pause. That pit in your stomach? That’s your future self trying to save you from writing this blog post.

What to Ask Before You Say Yes to a Job

Because sometimes the difference between a great opportunity and a slow-motion disaster is knowing the right questions.

Do Some Recon

• Check leadership stability on LinkedIn (if managers flee like it’s a fire drill…🚩).

• Read Glassdoor for patterns (one salty review is fine, 20 about burnout? Not fine).

• Search the news (layoffs, lawsuits, scandals—oh my).

• Scan employee tenure (if people last less than 2 years, ask why).

In the Interview, Ask the Awkward Stuff

• Culture check: “How does leadership support work-life balance here?”

• Bonus points if they don’t just say “pizza parties.”

• Turnover reality: “What’s the average tenure on this team?”

• High churn = high chance you’ll be next.

• Leadership ego test: “What feedback have you received as a leader, and how did you act on it?”

→ If they squirm, 🚩.

• Support system: “When projects get tough, how does leadership support the team?”

• Translation: Will you throw me under the bus, or stand in front of it?

• Growth check: “Can you share an example of someone who’s been promoted internally?”

→ If they change the subject… 🚩.

Final Thought

Red flags are easy to ignore when you’re dazzled by a shiny title or a nice paycheck. But here’s the thing: toxic jobs don’t just drain your energy—they make you question your worth.

So trust your gut. It’s usually right.

If the answers feel off, they probably are.

And if you have to talk yourself into it? Don’t.

Your future self will thank you.

(And maybe won’t need a diary entry about ignoring their own instincts.)