5 red flags to look out for in interviews
Don’t ignore them!
Job hunting can be exhausting. There’s endless applications, hours of browsing and unexpected phone calls. After spending so much time and energy on finding work, rejection can feel like a punch in the gut.
In fact, research shows that it takes around 4 months on average to land a new job. Not only that, but it’s estimated that millennials spend 46 months of their lives looking for a new job, an increase from previous generations; no wonder it’s so tempting to accept the first job offer you get!
However, your job hunting frustration may lead you to overlook red flags and take a job that’s not right for you!
It’s easy to ignore the signs at the start of a new role, but it gets harder to escape the reality overtime. The longer you stay, the easier it is to make excuses on why you can’t leave. As Apple CEO Tim Cook famously said:
“Don’t waste your life living someone else’s life. Don’t try to emulate the people who came before you to the exclusion of everything else, contorting into a shape that doesn’t fit.”
So how do we make sure you that you can vet jobs properly?
Interviews are a two-way street…
Traditionally, we see interviews as a structured conversation where we try to prove to the recruiters that we are the best candidate. What many don’t realise is this:
An interview is also the perfect opportunity for you to see if the job is actually a right fit.
This is a lot more than just asking the recruiter questions so you can appear curious and enthusiastic. Instead, it’s more effective to be genuinely curious about the job expectations and on the lookout for any red flags. By getting more information, you will have a better picture of what the job will be like.
So, let’s take a look at five red flags to look out for in interviews…
1. The company values don’t align with yours
Values dictate what we view as important and how we live our lives, so constant conflict with the guiding principles of an organisation won’t lead to the best results.
Whilst there’s no such thing as a perfect job, if a company’s culture does not align with your values then it’s probably best to look for another company that does. In the long term, employees with very different personal values to their company can lead to poor job performance.
So, don’t just rely on the website mission statement. Come prepared with a list of questions to dig a little deeper into the principles and objectives that really guide the company. Here are some suggestions of questions you can ask during the interview.
If you’re unsure on what your core values are, check out our articles on how to find your passion and developing your personal branding.
2. The interviewer talks badly about employees
If you notice that the interviewer tends to talk negatively about co-workers or employees, then this is a huge red flag. Not only is this unprofessional, but gossip can be a sign that the workplace culture is toxic.
This is because talking badly about staff highlights that employees will likely believe they will be punished for speaking up. Amy Edmondson, a leading expert in organisational behaviour, calls this ‘psychological safety’. In the video below she explains what the concept means:
According to the Office of National Statistics, full time workers spend on average 36.4 hours a week at work. So, since we spend most of our time on the job, it’s important that it’s not toxic!
3. Lack of clarity on job expectations
Managing expectations is essential to a successful employment relationship. Without it, job performance drops and stress rises. If you’re asking questions in the interview and just getting vague statements and inconsistent answers, this may be a sign that the expectations won’t be clarified further down the line. Do your best to ask questions so that you can clarify any concerns you have about the duties in the job description. If you are still struggling to get answers than you may need to reconsider the job.
4. Exploding offers
Whilst getting a job offer there and then may be flattering, often this is another bad sign. Having an ultimatum to respond to an offer puts you under pressure as you don’t have enough time to consider if you actually want to accept the job. Furthermore, an exploding offer also suggests that the company didn’t take the time to consider whether you are right for the job either. This may be because they were so impressed with you, but usually it’s because they are desperate to fill a role. Which leads onto our final point….
5. High staff turnover
Finally, if employees are almost always leaving the company then this is a sure fire sign that something isn’t quite right. Some of the main reasons for high turnover are:
- Lack of growth and progression
- No innovation
- Inadequate compensation
- Absence of camaraderie
- Overwork
- Micromanagement
- Lack of Feedback
Indeed, it’s important to remember that the job instability caused by the pandemic lead to the great resignation, which businesses are still trying to recover from. It takes businesses on average forty days to find a new hire, so it’s natural that companies may be understaffed. However, whilst it’s good to be aware of the current climate in the world of work, don’t overlook high staff turnover; it has a strong link to causing employees to be overworked.
Bonus tip: Ask for a second opinion
If you’re a graduate or just getting started in your career, it can be tricky to grasp the nuances of job interviews. There’s techniques and tactics that employers need to use in order to determine if you’re what they’re looking for. It might sound obvious, but always try to get a second opinion from someone you trust and respect. Their experience may give you a deeper insight into how the interview really went. They might notice some possible red flags that you couldn’t see.
No job is perfect and it’s completely natural to want to take anything that comes your way. However in the long term, being more discerning will be much more beneficial for your career. By looking out for these red flags, you’ll get closer to finding a job that suits you!
