“Is it even possible to avoid a bad company?” You might have asked yourself this question, especially if you’ve experienced toxic workplaces or have heard from peers about dreadful work environments.
But, the truth is there are ways to avoid the wrong company before you sign the dotted line and accept the job offer. It starts with knowing what red flags to look for, paying attention during the interview process, and making sure you don’t ignore the signs you see.
Of course, your goal during an interview should be to impress the hiring manager and to speak confidently about why you’re ready for the job. However, here are nine signs to observe and watch out for to help you avoid a misfit opportunity:
The interviewer advises against asking questions.
Interviews are a two-way street, and you should be prepared to ask your own set of insightful questions during each interview. However, if the interviewer seems agitated, annoyed, or defensive about your questions, that’s a red flag. That could indicate that they don’t value your thoughts, interests, or concerns. It could also reveal that they’re not interested in hiring someone who genuinely aligns with their company. Either way, not being able to ask your questions stops you from making sure the opportunity is a mutual fit for both you and the organization.
The interviewer responds with vague perfect answers.
If every single question you ask is met with a perfect response, don’t assume the job must be perfect. There are no perfect jobs. So, instead, dig a little deeper; ask a follow-up question or request an example to further illustrate their point. By doing so, you’ll have more data to help you gauge the truth behind their responses. But, if their responses still seem vague and unclear, then it’s very likely that you might discover some unpleasant or undesirable qualities about the company once you join the team.
The interviewer speaks about others in a disrespectful or belittling manner.
For example, if you inquire about why the role is currently available, and the interviewer responds by badmouthing the person who recently resigned, trust that they’re lack of respect for others will eventually trickle down to you if you step out of their good graces. Another thing to pay attention to is how the interviewer interacts with other passing colleagues during an in-person interview. Or, if you’re in a panel interview, observe how the interviewers interact with each other. Notice their dynamics and consider if their relationship style aligns with the type of environment you’re looking for next.
The company requests time-consuming free work.
It’s become more common for companies to include written assignments or tests in their hiring processes. And, while it can be overwhelming sometimes—particularly if you’re interviewing with multiple companies that desire a written task—as a career coach, I believe it’s a great way to help you further evaluate if the role you’re interviewing for aligns with the work you desire to do in your next position. However, if a company requests work that requires multiple hours over multiple days, that is a red flag. Written assignments and presentations should give companies a clue to your competence level, but it should not solve their real-life problems. So, if the project can easily be mistaken for a consulting gig, you might want to think twice about committing to free labor.
They ask you to do an assignment that’s not a part of the job description.
This is a sign that you might be stepping into a role that’s quite different from the original job description. Sure, sometimes the needs of a role can fluctuate, and depending on the type of opportunity you’re looking for next, this might excite you. But, regardless, it’s something you shouldn’t disregard. Another sign to pay attention to is if the responsibilities seem to change constantly from one interview to the next, that is a clue that you might be walking into a role that has unclear expectations, which will make it harder for you to excel at your new company if you accept the job. So, if you find this is the case or if you discover that the role no longer aligns with your strengths, skills, and interests, give yourself permission to bow out of the interview process. Doing so could save you from accepting the wrong opportunity for you.
The interviewer asks you inappropriate questions or makes inappropriate remarks.
This is a no-brainer. If it feels off-limits, it most likely is. For quick reference, it’s important to note that, as per the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, interviewers should avoid asking about race, ethnicity, religion, pregnancy, or plans to start a family. So, if you feel uncomfortable, or even flabbergasted, by an interviewer’s questions or remarks, trust your gut and move with caution. An interviewer who’s comfortable making inappropriate comments with a stranger will certainly not hold back once you’re a familiar face on the team.
They’re constantly rescheduling and ghosting you in between interviews.
If the company doesn’t value your time before you’re hired, it’s very unlikely they’ll respect your time once you’re in the job. Sure, life happens and things come up, and it’s good to be flexible and adaptable to sudden changes. However, if you find that your interviews are constantly getting rescheduled or if you’re repeatedly getting ghosted for months at a time, then either the company doesn’t prioritize the role or they’re too disorganized to move things forward. Both of these are premonitions for what’s to come if you were to accept the role.
You never had a chance to speak during the interview but they still offer you the job.
If the interviewer dominates the conversation, focusing primarily on themselves or the company, and fails to offer you a chance to discuss your skills and expertise, this is a critical warning sign you shouldn’t overlook. This could mean they are not being as intentional as possible about selecting the right person for the role. While this might be acceptable during an initial interview with a recruiter, if it persists across multiple interview rounds, don’t ignore it. Landing the job without revealing much about your qualifications and expertise might mean the company is desperate to hire anyone, and a desperate company is rarely a long-term enjoyable fit.
They rush you to make an immediate decision.
While companies should be excited to extend the job offer to their top candidate, you shouldn’t feel pressured to make a quick decision about whether or not you want to join the company. If the company gives you a short turnaround time or pushes you to make a choice as soon as they offer you the job, then you might want to think twice about what you’re signing up for. You should be able to evaluate the written job offer and make an informed decision before saying yes to the job, even if you are certain that you want the opportunity.
Most people go into interviews with only one focus: “I hope they pick me.” However, that mindset is a quick way to end up in a new job with the same problems you wanted to avoid. So, while you should focus on impressing the hiring manager in your interviews, you should also never forget to evaluate the company during the interview process. It could save you time, frustration, and heartache in the long run.
Adunola Adeshola coaches corporate high-achievers on how to take their careers to the next level. She is the author of the guide How to Go From Zero Interviews to Dream Job Offers.
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