Red Flags to Look Out For During Job Interviews
Preparing for an interview can be a time-consuming and nerve-wracking experience – have you prepared for the potential questions you might be asked? Put together some questions of your own to ask the interviewer? Researched the company and thoroughly read through the job description? Prepared what you’ll wear to the interview?! The list goes on and on….
With a full checklist to complete before an interview even begins, it can be easy to lose sight of why you’re there in the first place. While companies are conducting interviews in order to find the best fit for their empty role, it’s important to remember you are also on the hunt for the best fit for you. This means it’s important to carefully assess the environment you're in and take note of what excites you about a role and on the other hand, what rubs you the wrong way. Below you’ll find 5 examples of potential red flags or warning signs to look for in an interview.
Inconsistency in interviewer answers
Throughout your hiring process, it’s normal to speak with multiple different people – a recruiter, hiring manager, your prospective team members or manager, etc. However, despite the difference in their role in the hiring process, everyone you speak with should have the same understanding of the available job, the duties you will perform in it, and information on the company itself. Inconsistency in answers pertaining to these aspects can be a sign of poor communication within the organization or a job where you may be taking on more responsibility that you initially applied for.
The interviewer is unorganized or unprepared
Interviewers are only human. If at first they are seemingly unprepared – potentially late to an interview or needing to reschedule, don’t write off the opportunity right away. However, if there have been multiple instances of their lack of preparedness (rescheduling multiple times, clearly hasn’t read through your resume, unsure of certain aspects of the job description), this can be a red flag. Just as you have taken the time to prepare for your meeting, you should expect your interviewer to do the same. Not only does this show you have their respect, but it can also indirectly tell you about the company’s values and their work ethic.
You’re asked inappropriate or uncomfortable questions
If at any point during your interview you’re asked a question that you deem inappropriate or one that makes you uncomfortable, this is a huge red flag. An interview that makes you feel uncomfortable can say a lot about the company and the culture they have built. If you wouldn’t want to feel how you felt in your interview every day on the job, it’s likely this isn’t the job for you.
The interviewer speaks poorly about others
During your interviewer it’s important to never speak poorly about past employers, co-workers, managers, or really, anyone. Similarly, you should expect the same from your interviewer. Hearing them speak poorly about other candidates, current or past employees, or the company itself can be not only jarring, it can also be a huge red flag. Think of it this way – knowing this is how an interviewer speaks about others in front of you can also mean this is how they will speak about you. If this is the case, this role may lead to a dynamic that is filled with tension and lacking the necessary trust needed between team members.
You’re unsure of the job duties
If the role you’re interviewing for seems to differ from the job description you initially read or you can’t seem to fully grasp exactly what you’ll be doing in the role, take this as a warning sign. This could be an indication that the role they’re looking to fill is actually multiple roles in one, or even worse – a scam.
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