Knowing which interview red flags to look out for as a candidate is important. Finding signs of a potentially toxic work environment are indicators that you should continue your job search.
Keep in mind that interviewing is a two-way process. Therefore, you should be assessing the company as much as the interviewer is assessing you. If you see or hear anything concerning, the organization or role might not be right for you.
Learn the top interview red flags to look out for as a candidate.
Consistent Rescheduling
An interviewer who reschedules more than twice likely does not respect your time. Not valuing your time early in the relationship suggests this behavior could recur if you work for the company. Therefore, you should continue your job search.
Disrespecting Others
Pay attention to how the interviewer interacts with others. Hearing an interviewer disrespect their colleagues and coworkers suggests the work environment is toxic. You do not want to work for a company that appears to be siloed and has low psychological safety.
Interviewer Disengagement
An interviewer who does not smile and seems distracted likely is not interested in the conversation. They might have lined up another applicant for the role and want to confirm they made the best hiring decision. Therefore, you should look for other employment opportunities.
Lack of Clarity
Evaluate whether the interviewer provides clear, precise answers to your questions. If the answers are vague, continue to ask follow-up questions to gather the necessary details.
When you ask other employees the same questions throughout the interview process, ensure you receive consistent answers. Otherwise, you likely would not receive clear, accurate information if you worked for the company. As a result, you should focus on employment with other organizations.
Values Conflict
Focus on whether your core values align with the company’s core values. For instance, if you value autonomy, you might ask the interviewer which decisions you would be expected to make and which decisions should be escalated to the manager. If you would be given a low level of decision-making, you likely should look for a role elsewhere.
Resistance to Change
Ask how the interviewer handles employees with opinions that differ from theirs. Focus on the interviewer’s words and body language as they respond.
If the interviewer mentions they have opinions about the role because they used to fulfill the job duties and responsibilities, they might be opposed to change. Therefore, you should look elsewhere for opportunities that support career growth.
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