You can tell a lot about what your job will probably be like if you get hired after the interview. When the process is simple and straightforward, the interview professional, and all your questions answered without asking, then you can be sure you are going to have a positive experience working there.
On the other hand, if the interview has a number of red flags, don’t ignore them. You are about to find out what unfair treatment at work feels like. The entire interview process is going to reflect what the company is about and how things are done at that company. In this article, we will go over several of those red flags so you can run away from that interview and move on.
1 – Vague answers
When you ask a direct question you expect an actual answer. If the interviewer gives you a vague non answer full of corporate buzzwords then you should perk up because something is not right. This could mean that the interviewer was not prepared for the interview and didn’t know how to answer.
It can also mean that the question is not one that they care to answer so brush it off instead. Either scenario is a big red flag as it shows a workplace that will likely leave you searching for answers yourself and not much support.
2 – Your resume was not read
Look out for questions asked of you that would have been known to the interviewer if they had read your CV. Sometimes simple to answer questions that you already provided on the CV will be asked just to get a conversation started. However, it is obvious when that is the case and when it is a matter of being unprepared. If the interviewer hasn’t read your resume then this interview is likely to be a waste of time.
This isn’t a serious company and they may not even actually be trying to fill the position that you applied for.
3 – The process is disorganized
Some of the biggest red flags are the ones that you’ll see during the process of the interview.
If the interviewer is late, for instance, then this is a sign that they are not professional. If you are waiting to be interviewed and the receptionist is not able to find the appointment in the system then this is a bad sign. Those two things together signal a very disorganized operation and you will likely be left to fend for yourself.
4 – Disparaging remarks
Look out for remarks about you, other employees, or the competition from your interviewer. If they make disparaging remarks about any of them and you then you should simply cut the interview short and leave. This is the height of unprofessionalism and should expect even worse behavior if you were to take the job. Take a look around and pay attention to how the employees there behave and you will likely see the result of the unprofessionalism on display.