TL;DR
Accepting a job is a high-stakes commitment, and in a market averaging ~280 applications per UK role, candidates rationalise away the warning signs. A practical green/red flag checklist before you sign.
Green flags
- Clear, structured interview process
- You met your actual future peers (the strongest single signal)
- Honest answers about challenges
- The offer matches what was discussed
Red flags
- The process changed repeatedly
- You only ever met managers
- Evasive answers about why the role is open
- The offer differed from what was promised
- Pressure to decide immediately
The reframe
Getting the offer is the company choosing you. Accepting it should be you choosing them. Keep your CV current so you keep optionality, CVPilot makes that a two-minute job.
Full checklist: https://cvpilot.pro/blog/job-offer-green-flags-red-flags-2026?utm_source=devto&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=offer-flags
What red flag have you ignored and regretted?
