At first, the interview seemed fairly routine. They asked general questions about my background, skills, and work experience, which I expected. With seven years in the industry and experience working for three different companies, I was confident that my qualifications would be appreciated. However, red flags quickly began to emerge.
When I visited the office, I noticed there weren’t many designers working there, and the entire space was a mess, littered with rubbish—definitely not the professional environment I had expected.
The biggest shock came when the conversation shifted to compensation. Despite my years of experience and a solid track record, they offered me the minimum starting wage of $1500. I had never been lowballed like this in my career. When I raised my concerns and mentioned my past achievements, they simply dismissed them, explaining that they don’t value prior experience and prefer to start everyone at the lowest level to "understand their needs." This was extremely insulting.
Then, the real red flag came when I reviewed the contract. Not only was the offer well below my expectations, but they also stated that I would only receive 2/3 of the agreed salary, with the company keeping the remaining 1/3 "to prevent any damages" I might cause. They added that the full amount would only be released if I resigned and gave them a one-month notice period. This was a massive deal-breaker for me.
On top of that, they added me to a WhatsApp group without my consent and started pressuring me to make a decision after sending a contract letter without my agreement. They even put up a start date without consulting me. When I ultimately rejected the offer, as it was far below my expectations and needs, they begged me to reconsider. The entire experience was chaotic, unprofessional, and full of red flags, leaving me with no choice but to walk away.
