Negative experience after receiving an offer: unformalized start, salary cut, and last-minute withdrawal I’d like to share my experience to help potential candidates make an informed decision. After a screening call with the recruiter, we discussed my experience, salary expectations, and working conditions. I was then invited to multiple interview rounds, including one with the team lead — which, notably, was held with their camera off, a small but unprofessional sign. After the final interview, I was informed that the company could not meet the initially agreed salary and instead offered about 30% less, with a vague promise of a future raise. There were no written terms, timeline, or KPIs. Despite the red flags, I accepted the offer because the role itself seemed promising. We agreed on a start date and began discussing the legal setup. The company suggested using a third-party contractor allegedly working with legal entities in my region. I proposed alternative and fully legal ways to formalize our cooperation — which were declined. I repeatedly asked for the required paperwork to prepare the additional permit I needed. The company assured me the contractor would take care of it, but nothing happened for weeks. I had already put other opportunities on hold and was fully focused on this position. Just days before my start date, I was told that the paperwork was still not ready. I was asked to start working unofficially, with a promise to “sort things out later” and backdate the contract. This raised serious legal and ethical concerns, so I refused and asked to wait until everything was official. Eventually, I received a contract — poorly written and missing required legal elements on my side. Later, I was informed that the contractor would charge a high fee for processing the permits, which made me question the legitimacy of the setup even more. The next day fully withdrew the offer. I was left without a job and with weeks of wasted time, effort, and trust. Conclusion – Key red flags to watch for: Poor internal communication Salary renegotiation after an offer has been made Avoidance of responsibility for legal employment Suspicious or non-transparent contractor arrangements