How to make sure you don't have a toxic boss in your next job

Having a not-so-great boss isn’t a good feeling. You don’t want to be undermined or overworked. It isn’t fair. Before you go through the pain of long hours and bad treatment, we suggest you do some research first. There isn’t always a clear way of telling if your boss is a baddie, but there are a couple of ways you can do a background check before you start out. 

Here's how to make sure your boss is not a devil wearing Prada. 

Word of mouth

Word of mouth is probably the best way you can know beforehand. Do people generally have favourable reviews of them? What do your co-workers and team members say about them? People who’ve known them in a professional capacity can give you a good insight into how they treat their team. If you’re really paranoid, reach out to some ex-employees (there are many ways to find ex-employees including LinkedIn and referrals) and ask them about their opinion. Take a decision based on the collective response. But don't take bad reviews at face value; many people have issues with their bosses due to their own slack. Taking many opinions instead of settling on the worst ones is the way to go about it. 

Professional sites and professional image

Stalk your potential boss on LinkedIn to understand a bit more about their merits through their education and work experiences. You can also find reviews of their work ethics on Glassdoor if you're lucky. These can give you an insight into their personality. 

Do a vibe check

If you’ve met your potential boss during the interview, you’ve probably got a good first feel of them. It’s a good idea to analyse their behaviour. Follow your gut feeling here. Your boss won't show their true side to you during the interview if they are bad but the vibes and the little details always give it away. Focus on how interested they are in what you have to say or how they react to an answer they don't entirely agree with. 

Remember there is no such thing as a perfect boss

It’s important to remember that all bosses are human beings, they have emotions just like you do. Don’t judge them based on their status, or a few bad reviews. They can be really supportive, or really annoying, but you won’t truly know what they’re like unless you start working for them. Most bosses try to be harsh but kind at the same time; it’s their job to maximise your potential. Don't take a person's way of pushing you to do your best as unnecessary pressure. Sometimes it’s worth hustling under a strict boss if you know where you’re going. The point is, don’t judge your entire career based on a boss you’ve never met.