Congratulations, you left a toxic workplace! But now what?

It happens: your workplace is toxic, you've been there for years, and you've finally had enough. You've done your homework, spoken to a few trusted colleagues, and you've (quietly, I hope) gone looking elsewhere. But how do you ensure you are leaving for less toxic pastures instead of jumping from the frying pan into the fire?

Keep the following in mind when searching for a new workplace, to avert falling into another toxic cesspit.

• Investigate thoroughly. Google your potential workplace, tap into the grapevine, or speak with former employees or collaborators. Make sure your sources are reliable or as close to it as possible. Buzzfeed-like lists such as "ten best companies to work for" may not be the best indicator of whether you'll like it there.
• Any signs they might be jerks when exchanging emails, text messages or phone calls? If you feel they are rude, hostile, arrogant, disrespectful or overly demanding, beware.
• When attending meetings or interviews, try to strike up a little conversation with the employees if you can. They're unlikely to badmouth their bosses and colleagues to strangers (a bonus if they do!), so pay attention to what they say and how they say it. If they offer faint but insincere praise, quickly switch subjects, or clam up entirely when talking about their bosses or the people you'll be working with, take note.
• Also: How do the employees treat each other? Interactions among the staff of your potential employer or client can be telling. Any aggressive teasing? Rude interruptions, pained facial expressions or glum silence?
• During meetings or interviews, do your potential superiors, colleagues, or clients tend to dominate the talking time? Do they just go on and on about themselves, flaunt their knowledge, and seem uninterested in you or what you have to say? Signs aren't good if they're only interested in the sound of their voice.
• Can you ask to start with a small commitment, e.g., an internship, trial period, or a small project on a freelance basis? Dipping your toes this way can help you test the waters before committing long-term.

The above should be enough to get you started. Even with greater awareness of the need for healthy workplaces, detoxifying work environments will take a while. Until then, we have to do what we can to survive a toxic workplace or avoid such places entirely, and not to be part of the problem.

The advice above is drawn from The Asshole Survival Guide by Robert I. Sutton. Get his book for more tips on and examples of how to avoid or deal with workplace toxicity, plus cautionary tales of toxic people.

Note that in some cultures and societies, the tips and advice given in some self-help books may not be suitable or may even backfire. Know your company culture and what it demands before using the tips in such books.