During a Job Interview, You Need to Look for These Red Flags
We have all been there. When you first walk into that office, you notice something is off. There is something wrong, but it’s hard to pinpoint what it is.
A red flag is what you are experiencing. Look for this when going into a job interview. It’s true, we don’t pay attention to our gut feelings because we all need a job to pay for the necessities of life. However, you must trust your instincts to know if this is the right job for you.
You’ll soon notice why that nagging feeling was there from the beginning, if you ignore that red flag and get the job. There are several things that could cause this, a toxic work environment, or long working hours. It is important to say no if they offered you a position that you didn’t feel comfortable in during the interview.
Here are some red flags to look for during a job interview.
They use too many buzzwords.
I am not talking about any professional ones. These are cliches like “We’re like a family here” and “We’re looking for self-starters.”
In my personal experience, the buzzword that is my own red flag is “We’re always busy.” I’ve heard that twice in interviews. Both are jobs that I got.
In the first one, a travel call center, the supervisor said, “We are always busy on Saturdays.” It turns out few people want to call and make a reservation for that one day. I spent the rest of those Saturdays talking to colleagues and waiting for calls.
In the second one, the manager said, “We’re always busy.” But at the beginning of that job, which was from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., I had everything wrapped up by 3 p.m. It was against the rules for me to go home early. So, I tried to ask to help my co-workers, but no one said yes. I ended up being on the computer pretending to work for those two hours. However, as time went on, the clients who used to trust the company where I worked, are now relying more and more on Social Media for their advertising needs. Because of that, my lull time extended until I got laid off.
The Hiring Manager is Late or Not Prepared.
You’ve been there for at least 15 minutes waiting for the interview. You arrived at the interview 30 minutes ago. A hiring manager comes and apologizes for their tardiness.
Or you just arrived at the job interview, only to discover the Supervisor you were supposed to meet suddenly rescheduled the meeting at the last minute without your knowledge.
Or they showed up unprepared for the interview.
Everyone is late from time to time, but if Hiring Managers do this all the time, it shows disrespect for the people with whom they work with.
I recall being in a job interview with three people. It was for a data entry position. One of them told me at the start of the interview that they would ask me job-related questions based on a book they had in front of me. I did my best to answer them. The interview was going well until they asked me five skill-based questions. You know the ones that ask you to list three of your best skills. Well, I answered all five of them with the same three skills. They looked at me, thinking that I was strange.
They should have read those questions before the interview and then selected only one of them. All five questions were similar, but worded differently. I didn’t get that job.
They’re Vague on the Job Description
There is no clear description of what responsibilities you will have in this position. You try your best to ask about what this position entails, but that potential boss doesn’t make it clear what your duties will be or avoid the question altogether.
An example: Imagine in the interview for a copywriter position in radio, your boss will tell you that you will help with the phones. Once you start, you notice that there is no receptionist at the front desk and you realize you are the one taking all those calls for your fellow co-workers. Add to that you have no experience in administration.
The employer’s vagueness is a sign that something is wrong with the organization. Otherwise, please do not apply.
The Hiring Manager Avoids Asking You Job-Related Questions
Either they are new to their position or they would rather hear about your personal life. You are here for a job interview, not to gossip or chitchat.
In this case, steer them by going back by talking about your work experience. If they persist, then this is not the job for you.
During a Job Interview, they’re upfront with you saying that you might not get this job
This happens, and I personally experienced it a few months ago. If they offer you a job in the future, stay away from them. Why waste your time going to a job interview only to be told that you won’t be hired?
The interview is too short or too long
Typically, a job interview lasts for at least 30 minutes. If it’s too short, that indicates that the company isn’t interested in hiring anyone. When the interview is too long, it means that they don’t value their time with the staff.
There are also interviews where you are told ahead of time that it might take an hour. It’s okay, because they value your time and preparation.
Work Environment Doesn’t Resonate with You
I felt this way during my interview at that same call center (where the supervisor believes Saturdays are always busy). The moment I stepped into that office, I felt something wasn’t quite right. I couldn’t put my finger on why. I wanted to fail that interview. However, I don’t know what I did to pass and get that job.
When you first enter that office, pay attention to the environment and your intuition. Observe how those workers interact with each other. Pay attention to how your prospective employer treats their staff as well.
If you don’t feel comfortable in that environment, it is best to decline the job offer. Don’t waste your time being miserable at work.
There are plenty of other good jobs out there that will suit your needs.
The hiring manager ignores you
You are in the middle of your speech about what attracted you to this job, and suddenly, the manager gets a call from their office or cell phone. They interrupt you to take it.
Or they ignore you throughout the interview.
Or perhaps they talk way too much throughout the interview, leaving you no time to speak up.
It is easy to spot this red flag. If the hiring manager isn’t interested in what you have to say, it’s likely they aren’t doing the same with their staff. It is better to find an interview with someone who will pay attention to you.
They Show Unprofessional Behavior
Let’s say you’re in an interview and you inquire about the previous hire. They end up speaking negatively about that individual. Or they say something derogatory about a particular group of people. They make negative observations about the actions of their coworkers. Or they make a joke off-handedly that they think is humorous, but no one else laughs.
This shows how much this person does not value and respect the people they hire. If you notice this, move on.
Be aware of these red flags in your next job interview. Do not be afraid to decline a job offer if they offer you one. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain!
Thanks for reading!
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References
Embry, M. (2021, November 24). Red Flags to Watch For in Job Interviews. TheBestSchools.org. Retrieved May 13, 2022, from https://thebestschools.org/careers/career-prep/red-flags-in-a-job-interview/
Galindo, B. (2021, December 10). 17 People Sharing Red Flags During Job Interviews. BuzzFeed. Retrieved May 13, 2022, from https://www.buzzfeed.com/briangalindo/red-flags-during-interviews
SCULLY, S. (2022, March 9). 17 Interview Red Flags To Look Out For. The Everygirl. Retrieved May 13, 2022, from https://theeverygirl.com/interview-red-flags/
7 Red Flags You Should Watch for in a Job Interview. (2022, February 2). Robert Half. Retrieved May 13, 2022, from https://www.roberthalf.ca/en/blog/job-interview-tips/7-red-flags-you-should-watch-for-in-a-job-interview
