So today I went on my job interview...

I can take the job anytime I am sitting with the contract in front of me and the only reason why I am not signing it is because I am not comfortable with what was presented to me. I went for a job interview for a junior java developer and the first thing I noticed is that this person is driving through to the town I stay for the interview. Normally we go to the office of the company in our country. Second he just blabs on about the company what they do and how they want to grow and all their opportunities. He did not ask me any questions like in a normal interview it is more if he is trying to sell his company to me than actually doing a job interview. Then the salary is poor they are looking for a junior java dev but expects a full stack developer that they can leave to write a whole module for them next month for their software.

In most interviews I went too a technical person like a senior dev is present to assist and ask questions. So it was a bit strange. They want me to work from home 4 day's of the week and come into the office one day of the week. The ceo drives a 2002-2006 model merc and I don't know I just have my doubts about this whole story. They seem very accommodating to me being transgender and everything but it does not feel like I had to jump through hoops to get the job something feels off to me.

Follow your gut feeling. It has saved me many times. If it does not feel right, it propably isn't.

It sounds like a brand-new startup business that isn't properly established yet - hence the lack of a local office, and the fact that he spent the whole interview trying to pitch his business idea instead of interviewing a potential employee.

If you need the cash & there aren't any penalty clauses in the contract that will prevent you from getting out when something better comes along, I'd go for it. After all, you're working from home mostly & it'll fill in the gap on your CV. And who knows? If this new business takes off, you could be in line for a better position (and more pay) further down the line.

It could also be that this is a fly-by-night operation who're developing some software in the hopes of selling it on, and if that's the case then there's a chance you won't get paid if they don't find a buyer. So only go for it if you think it's worth taking that chance. After all, Bill Gates took the same sort of chance.

It is a difficult call because I need a job again but something just seems off. It all seems to good to be true and made up in a way. Talking about they own 14 businesses or something.

Quote from: FTMDiaries on March 16, 2017, 10:18:45 AM
It sounds like a brand-new startup business that isn't properly established yet - hence the lack of a local office, and the fact that he spent the whole interview trying to pitch his business idea instead of interviewing a potential employee.

If you need the cash & there aren't any penalty clauses in the contract that will prevent you from getting out when something better comes along, I'd go for it. After all, you're working from home mostly & it'll fill in the gap on your CV. And who knows? If this new business takes off, you could be in line for a better position (and more pay) further down the line.

It could also be that this is a fly-by-night operation who're developing some software in the hopes of selling it on, and if that's the case then there's a chance you won't get paid if they don't find a buyer. So only go for it if you think it's worth taking that chance. After all, Bill Gates took the same sort of chance.

It can be that they are taking young devs that is desperate for a ride. It was all too easy in my opinion. Apparently they have been in it for years and want to be the center hub of business in the country. I googled their address and only see an open plot on the address and also noticed about how they lie about their amount of page views on the site they have.

Too bad you don't live in the states, I could hook you up with some legitimate opportunities, I always know good companies looking for Java developers. 

That said, and not totally knowing the employment laws of South Africa, I'd echo what Tonie said.  If it doesn't feel right then walk away. I don't know how desperate you are for employment but if they're looking for a contract and you're not comfortable with something, I wouldn't sign any commitment.

Yeah, sounds fishy, even a startup shouldn't be this shady...

I know he is waiting for an answer but even before he had an interview with me he had a contract drafted. I only did a small silly technical test.

Identity thief?  Anything online about the company or this guy?

Any way you can get some private face time with an employee or two of theirs?

Stephanie

Before I found my current position I experienced more than my fair share of shifty employment prospects. I don't do anything with software/Java or anything like that. For me it was product marketing firms, but they all have me the same uneasy vibe. After a couple interviews I wouldn't even respond to a request when those "types" of potential employers reached out for an interview. Something about those places just instantly rubbed me the wrong way before I even got into an interview. The way it feels like they are pitching their own business, barely asking interview questions but almost instantly asking me to come in for follow up interviews. Even the ties around their necks and the paint on the walls felt off. BIf you can afford to hold out, I think it's best to steer clear if your gut is sending warning signs.

Sounds a bit like a company I was tied up with years ago. They  would buy companies that didn't complete development of the product dirt cheap, move development in house to finish the product and then sell or product/sell the product. I was young at the time so all the mixed product labels in house didn't trip the alarm that it should have. I worked there about a year before they attempted to bail out by selling stock and cleaning up on the initial offering. Problem they had was that the stock dropped in value with the initial offering so I was sent out the door with many others.

You are right, there are plenty of warning bells and unless you know you are going to get paid at the rate you want, it might be better to look at something else.