Trust, reputation, and credibility carry a ton of weight in most professions. If you’re not dependable and don’t look like you have any integrity, you’ll have an awful time trying to get your job done. Especially if your work requires you to interact with other people throughout the day.
Industry insiders took to an enlightening AskReddit thread to share the biggest red flags that a ‘professional’ is untrustworthy. Scroll down to pick up some of the signs that you shouldn’t blindly trust just any ‘expert,’ no matter how wide their smile.
Meanwhile, Bored Panda reached out to the author of the intriguing thread, u/ShapingTormance, and they were kind enough to share their thoughts about building trust. Check out our full interview with them below!
#1
Never trust a librarian who agrees to ban books.
Image source: sotiredwontquit, Tima Miroshnichenko
#2
Don’t trust a principal who was never a teacher. .
Image source: CantBuyMyLove, Max Fischer
#3
Don’t trust an unvaccinated health care worker.
Image source: InfernalWedgie
#4
Don’t trust the scientist who can’t say “I don’t know”. A good scientist knows they don’t know everything.
Image source: RomanoCheesed, ThisIsEngineering
#5
Don’t trust a pastor who wears expensive shoes and watches.
EDIT: of course I’m not saying “don’t trust all pastors because all pastors are awful!!!” The point in the original question is about YOUR OWN INDUSTRY.
Since I’m an actual pastor, I thought you might want to know how I determine whether or not someone who claims to be clergy puts me on guard or not – and wearing flashy clothes, watches, shoes, or who drives a luxury car (that’s obviously not an cold clunker that they’ve fixed up) – THOSE are reasons for me, a pastor, to be made wary of other people who claim to be a part of clergy.
For those of you who just don’t trust pastors of any kind because of the hurt you may have experienced at the hands of the unscrupulous or the awful representatives of the cloth – I deeply and sincerely apologize for that pain. I, too, wish that had never happened.
Image source: Wonderful-Power9161, Pavel Danilyuk
#6
Always let the nurse give you the shot, never the doctor…
Image source: Uncle_Bill
#7
Don’t trust a hiker who says they love nature but leaves trash behind.
Image source: Broad-Try-8127
#8
Don’t trust an IT person who hasn’t caused an organization wide outage at least once, if more than 5, also don’t trust them.
Image source: TheHarb81, Djordje Petrovic
#9
Famous psychologists that are tv personalities are not famous because they are “the best”. “The best” exists in research and or the clinic.
Image source: tmotytmoty, cottonbro studio
#10
Don’t trust a wine sales rep that wears heavy cologne/perfume. It messes up your ability to taste samples in sales meetings.
Image source: chrza, Ushindi Namegabe
#11
Don’t trust a writer who doesn’t read.
Image source: nekosaigai, Ketut Subiyanto
#12
Don’t trust a writer who doesn’t have a strong opinion about Oxford commas. Preferably, they should have the *right* opinion about them (they are good and everyone should use them) but even if they’re wrong you should still trust them to write better than someone who doesn’t care either way.
Image source: RhynoD
#13
Don’t trust a restaurant manager who’s never waited a table. This includes brewers who open and run brewpubs.
Image source: Fearless_Lab, Andrea Piacquadio
#14
Don’t trust a man who bankrupts casinos with your economy.
Image source: TuxPaper
#15
Don’t trust a home care aide/special needs provider who claims to know what causes autism.
Image source: More_Rise
#16
Don’t trust a dentist who’s anti-fluoride.
Image source: DiamondBurInTheRough
#17
Don’t trust an education consultant or curriculum writer or admin that never had any classroom experience.
Image source: sweadle
#18
Never trust a therapist who hasn’t been to therapy… extensively. .
Image source: Affectionate-Bad4890, Polina Zimmerman
#19
Don’t trust any life coach/consultant who uses “we all have the same 24 hours in a day” as a comeback to the “I don’t have time” excuse.
I absolutely do not have the “same” 24 hours in a day as child free Oprah Winfrey, with her paid staff and zero daily commute.
Image source: AriesProductions
#20
A teacher who isn’t interested in learning new things.
Image source: uninterestedteacher
#21
Don’t trust a religious person who is loud about being religious.
Image source: SeasonMarla
#22
Don’t trust anyone in education who stopped teaching before covid. Oh, you want to tell me what to do in this classroom when your last cohort of students was in 2018? No thank you, babe. You have no idea what we’re dealing with here in the trenches.
Image source: eagle2001a
#23
A geologist without a rock collection.
Image source: Prof_Explodius
#24
If he’s got an ipad and a white button down shirt, he’s not there to fix your equipment, he’s there to try to sell you new equipment.
Image source: Abrandnewrapture, Antoni Shkraba Studio
#25
Don’t trust a 22 year old management consultant.
Image source: hx87, Yan Krukau
#26
As a perpetually single/never married divorce lawyer, I don’t love this question…
Image source: unrepentantfuncooker
#27
An IT person who doesn’t have a special interest in something.
Image source: Braith117
#28
Don’t trust any “professional” artist who likes AI.
Image source: Particular-Leg-8484
#29
A nurse with a perfect manicure.
Image source: AMGRN
#30
Don’t trust a monolingual linguist.
Image source: JinimyCritic
#31
If a paramedic shows up with their uniform ironed, pants cuffed, and a whole trauma kit on their belt, they are brand new and are still waiting to get their medic cert in the mail. If they’re leaving out the window smoking a cigarette, then toss an empty can of white monster back into the truck as they’re getting out, and look like they just rolled out of bed, you’re getting the guy with 20 years of experience that can figure out what’s wrong with the patient approximately 6 seconds after entering your home.
Image source: Officer_Hotpants
#32
Don’t trust a teacher who doesn’t read books.
Image source: principalman
#33
Don’t trust a parenting support professional whose adult kids don’t speak to them.
Image source: Royal_Tonight4033, cottonbro studio
#34
A salesman who says his product does everything you’re asking it to do exactly as you are asking for it is lying.
Image source: wastedpixls, LinkedIn Sales Navigator
#35
Don’t trust a cowboy with clean shoes.
Image source: M1n1sn00py
#36
Don’t trust an HR person who seems to know A LOT about the company and the people in it. If YOU know that they know a lot, it’s bc they’re telling you stuff you shouldn’t be told. They aren’t discreet. And won’t be discreet when they know something about you.
Image source: lizzdurr
#37
Been working with a lot of acting, singing, and dance teachers in the last 3 years and this is a hard one I’ve learned that I don’t think most theatre students recognize.
**Don’t trust a performing arts teacher who cares more about how your performance makes *you* feel than how it makes your *audience* feel.**
This one is tough because you should feel good about your performance and how your teacher teaches you, but at the end of the day you have to actually be learning how to connect with an audience. But teaching that is hard and measuring it is ambiguous, but making a student feel good and powerful? That’s relatively easy, and if they can keep selling *that* the student can keep coming indefinitely, blissfully ignorant of their lack of progress. And that’s kinda optimal for making this “teacher” the most money.
Image source: Stargazer__2893
#38
Don’t trust a physicist with a neat haircut and a suit .
Image source: Lasagnaoflife
#39
Don’t trust a software engineer that thinks AI is good at programming.
Image source: thelimeisgreen
#40
Don’t trust a minister of God that preaches hate.
Image source: fancylamas
#41
Don’t trust a dog groomer who breeds doodles.
Image source: Hour-Sweet2445
#42
Never trust an esthetician who has no strong opinions about sunscreen in any way.
Image source: CheshireAsylum
#43
Don’t trust a litigator who promises you literally anything. Every answer should be “it depends.”.
Image source: legalbeagle1989
#44
I do not trust a software engineer that was not bullied in high school. Yes I can tell. .
Image source: eyesonthefries609
#45
Don’t trust an accountant who’s terrible with their own money.
Image source: ilost190pounds
#46
Don’t buy wine with a large enough marketing budget to advertise on billboards or TV.
Image source: ReginaGloriana
#47
Don’t trust a wedding photographer who uses a camera with only one SD card slot.
Image source: Unnecessarybanter33
#48
Don’t trust some “dog trainer” guy who only works with Malinois and thinks flashy heeling makes him a good trainer.
Show me what you can do with a beagle, a bloodhound, or a Saluki, and then we can talk.
Image source: T3nacityDog
#49
Don’t trust anyone in fashion whose pants and/or bra doesn’t fit. If they can’t handle the basics of fit they won’t make you or your clients look good. That’s my old job.
I work with intelligently disabled adults now. Don’t trust anyone who is overly enthusiastic to spend time alone with a client and emotionally involved in an inappropriate way. Also anyone who lacks empathy or has a short temper.
Image source: Jerkrollatex
#50
I know someone who got a job as a “career advisor” at the local university. Up until then, the only jobs she had ever had were a part-time retail gig at the mall for and some college internships.
Image source: painterbitch
#51
Writing advice YouTube channels featuring authors who have self published one book and/or never had a screenplay produced.
Nothing wrong with self publishing per se, but so many of the self described “writing gurus” create a fake publishing company complete with a website and logo and additional fake authors and fake books to give themselves credit.
They then proceed to give either very basic advice, or actively bad advice, then pitch their special, extremely expensive one-on-one coaching sessions.
Image source: Malmborgio
#52
Don’t trust a mechanical engineer who ignores his technicians.
I tell all my junior engineers the same thing.
“The guy working on the line building the thing you designed will absolutely end up knowing more about it than you do”.
Image source: Redditcadmonkey
#53
The more bands they’ve been in, the more likely they’re the problem
Since this took off some I’ll explain:
Most musicians have been in many projects, but with professionals…
If their resume is all short stints or single tours, 🚩.
Image source: plastictigers
#54
From a client perspective; don’t trust a tattooer with no tattoos.
From a tattooer/employee perspective; don’t trust a shop owner who doesn’t tattoo.
Image source: Warnex9
#55
Don’t trust the stylist in the salon that has the best hair.
(Another stylist did it.).
Image source: chloemonet
#56
Don’t trust hospital administrator who never worked clinically.
Image source: biggershark
#57
Professional grade gear is never advertised as “pro”.
Image source: Team_Braniel
#58
Don’t trust a teacher with a clear desktop.
Image source: mustbethedragon
#59
Don’t trust a contractor who’s never swung a hammer.
Image source: dave493333
#60
Not my industry, but don’t trust a restaurant in a port city that says they don’t have a rat problem.
If they’re denying its existence it means they aren’t dealing with it, and it means they absolutely do have a rat problem.
Image source: ebb_omega
#61
Don’t trust a restaurant boss who ever only worked in fast food.
Image source: Dalostbear
#62
Don’t trust or at least be careful of personal injury attorneys who excessively advertise. I personally know two PI attorneys who blast their ads everywhere but are less than competent.
Image source: MaiqTheLawyer
#63
Never trust a cook that holds their knife with their pointer finger out.
Image source: NoInspector7746
#64
Don’t trust a lawyer who has esquire in their signature block.
Image source: ButtasaurusFlex
#65
Don’t trust an accountant who prefers google sheets to excel.
Image source: hop2thebus
#66
I have brown hair that I color frequently.
I hate when I go to blonde hairdressers, because they always want me to lighten my hair. I now consistently go to brunette hair dressers.
Image source: procrastinatorsuprem
#67
Never trust an IT Security Analyst who doesn’t have prior Systems or Network Administrator experience.
Image source: miauguau44
#68
Don’t trust a mechanic with a brand new car.
Image source: renzok
#69
Don’t trust a dispatcher that didn’t drive truck for a few years himself.
Image source: Schiissdraeck
#70
Don’t trust a nurse who has “never made a medication error”. They are either lying or they haven’t routinely administered medications.
Image source: elphiekopi
#71
My job seems to get new ones every day recently, not sure why… The most recent is Don’t trust a doctor who recommends women of childbearing age refrain from using Tylenol.
Image source: theoutsideinternist
#72
In the funeral industry it’s don’t hire the goths. There are times when you’re left with little choice and there are even some goths that turn out to be professional and good at their jobs but trust me, we see those Betty Page bangs coming a mile away.
Image source: stevebobeeve
#73
My late uncle was a freight conductor for 50 years. He said never trust a railroad engineer that doesn’t drink coffee.
Image source: AnnualDragonfruit123
#74
Don’t trust a rich social worker!
Image source: marthajanepundlekit
#75
A banker with debt. Most places will do a credit check and not hire someone with poor credit as they think they’re more likely to be tempted to steal funds.. however, I’ve worked with a handful that are absolutely terrible with their own money and really should not be giving financial advice to others.
Image source: caughtwinehanded
#76
Don’t trust a game reviewer with an active insta.
Usually means they are an influencer not a reviewer and may not give objective reviews in the best case and demand active tribute in the worst.
Image source: wizzard419
#77
Don’t trust someone in tech that can’t administer their own machine.
I understand there are different specialties but a complete lack of understanding of the thing they work in front of for 8 hours a day tells me that they have a fatal lack of intuition and curiosity that I feel the field requires.
Image source: Whitewind617
#78
Don’t trust rock the Dwayne Johnson’s hair products when he has no hair.
Image source: Naroyto
#79
Don’t trust a security personnel who won’t stop talking.
Image source: Capital-Zucchini-529
#80
I say this as someone you shouldn’t have trusted early in my career:
Don’t trust a software team member who isn’t willing to pay for his own product.
I used to work at a consumer software company and everyone loved the free swag but wouldn’t pay for the product ourselves. Our product suffered because of it.
Image source: cmaronchick
#81
Priests. A person that has never been married, giving lectures and advice on how to make a marriage work
Being married to God does not count, father!
Image source: J0n__Doe
#82
Dont trust a plumber who bites his nails.
Image source: jgilbs
#83
Don’t trust a voice teacher who only has academic experience .
Image source: Subtlety87
#84
Don’t trust a Door Dasher to know how long it takes to make orders.
I’m so sick of hearing “it’s just one sandwich” when we’re making hundreds. I don’t know or care that DD sent you to pick up a meal as soon as it was ordered. Orders go into a queue. We make them in that order. We don’t work for you.
Image source: All_HallowsEve
#85
I was a swim instructor. In my personal experience, divers are not good instructors. I don’t mean that they can’t teach, I mean that they don’t teach things correctly when they’re training people for swim team. I knew some great divers, but most of them could only get you the basics of swimming and not skills necessary for swim team.
Image source: AhoBrotherDeer
#86
Don’t trust a manager who has never done every other position in FOH. I’ve met so many managers who had never hosted and it shows.
Image source: normanbeets
#87
Audio engineer – there’s a lot of people that make YouTube videos about mixing and have strong opinions. If you don’t like how their stuff sounds, disregard their advice.
Image source: orphy
#88
Don’t trust a CIO that doesn’t have a computer in their office.
Image source: shantm79
#89
Don’t trust an overweight doctor, or one who smokes.
Image source: RowanRally
Follow Us
