How to Spot a Lowball Job Offer in Construction: 5 Red Flags to Watch For

How to Spot a Lowball Job Offer in Construction: 5 Red Flags to Watch For

Receiving a job offer is always exciting, but what if the offer isn't quite what it seems? In Ireland’s competitive construction market, it's more common than you might think to receive a job offer that undervalues your experience, skills, and responsibilities.

Here at Breagh Recruitment, we’ve seen it happen across roles such as site engineers, quantity surveyors, project managers, and health and safety professionals. That’s why we’ve created this short guide to help you identify the signs of a lowball offer before you say yes.

1. Salary Below Market Rate

One of the most obvious red flags is a salary that’s significantly lower than what’s typical for your role, location, and experience.

Construction salaries vary by county and sector, so it’s important to benchmark your offer. If you’re unsure, ask for a free salary comparison – most reputable recruiters will gladly help.

2. Missing Standard Benefits

In the Irish construction industry, many roles come with standard benefits such as:

• Pension contributions

• Private health insurance

• Vehicle or travel allowance

• Fuel card

• Bonus or performance incentives

If your offer doesn’t include any of these, it’s worth questioning why. A lower base salary can sometimes be offset by a strong benefits package – but the reverse should also raise concern.

3. Vague or Unclear Bonus Structure

Phrases like “We’ll review bonuses at the end of the year” or “Bonus is performance-based” without any clarity are warning signs.

You should be given a clear outline of:

• When the bonus is paid

• What percentage it typically represents

• What metrics or milestones are used to calculate it

Without this information, there’s no guarantee the bonus will ever materialise.

4. Pressure to Accept Quickly

If a company is pushing you to accept an offer immediately or making you feel like you're on the clock, take a step back.

Urgency can sometimes be used as a tactic to stop you from weighing your options or negotiating better terms. A good employer will allow you time to make a considered decision.

5. One Title, Two Jobs

Is the job description asking you to perform the duties of two separate roles – for example, combining project management and site management – without the compensation to match?

If so, that’s another common sign of being undervalued. The salary should reflect the full scope of the work and the level of responsibility expected.

Protect Yourself Before You Accept

Here are a few tips to ensure you don’t accept less than you deserve:

• Always compare offers across roles and regions

• Ask for a full breakdown of the benefits and bonus scheme

• Know the current market value of your role

• Don’t be afraid to negotiate

Get a Free Salary Review

Not sure what you should be earning based on your title, experience, and location? At Breagh Recruitment, we offer free, no-obligation salary insights across all key construction roles in Ireland.

Get in touch today for a confidential salary review and honest career advice.

About Breagh Recruitment

Breagh Recruitment is a specialist agency for permanent construction and engineering roles across Ireland, the UK and Europe. With over 20 years of industry experience, we support contractors, consultancies and developers in building strong, project-ready teams. From site engineers and BIM managers to project leads and site managers, we place people who know how to deliver. We take the time to understand each brief properly and offer a straight-talking, relationship-led recruitment service that prioritises long-term fit over short-term fixes.