Top 3 red flags job seekers should watch out for in interviews, says career expert

Candidates are often worried about making a good impression during the hiring process, but they also need to be equally attuned to how the company presents itself.

Don’t ignore your intuition if something goes wrong during a job interview, says Amanda Augustine, career coach and resident career expert at Resume.ai.

“Candidate experience is often a reflection of how they treat and respect their employees,” says Augustine.

No matter how great a job looks on paper, “if it’s not a great experience interviewing them and going through the review process, then it’s probably not going to be a great experience when you walk in the door,” he says.

According to Augustine, these are recruiters’ top three red flags that job seekers should look out for in interviews.

The hiring team doesn’t have a clear idea of ​​what the role entails

Augustine says that’s a big red flag if each person you talk to during the interview process “seems to have a different idea of ​​what they expect you to do in the role.”

From a company perspective, everyone involved in the hiring process is asking, “What does success look like in this role?” It should give similar answers to questions such as. or “What are the top three qualities someone needs to do this job?”

According to Augustine, if the hiring team isn’t clear about what exactly your job duties will be, which team members you’ll work with, or what your role in the company will be, you’ll likely face unrealistic or vague expectations as an employee.

These inconsistencies could also point to larger problems in company culture, he says.

Augustine says this could indicate “conflict within the organization” about what they’re looking for, and “if you take the job, you’ll be stuck in the middle of it.”

They avoid answering difficult questions

Augustine says job interviews are a two-way street: Candidates evaluate whether they want to work at a company, just as employers evaluate whether they’ll hire them.

If there are any areas of concern, candidates can and should ask probing questions such as: “It looks like there was a major layoff last year. How did the team recover from that, and how did it change your goals?”

Pay attention to the way your interviewer responds, says Augustine.

“If they shy away from it, refuse to answer, or don’t want to get into it, it’s because they either don’t know the answer or they think the answer will scare you,” he says. “I would be wary of that.”

It can also be a red flag if the interviewer doesn’t let you talk to current team members, he says: They may be trying to hide a toxic work environment.

Work environment seems tense

If you’re visiting the company for a face-to-face meeting, Augustine says it’s crucial to “assess your environment.”

“Keep your eyes and ears open for what’s going on around you,” he says.

“Where do they keep you waiting? What’s the environment like around you? Do people look stressed? Are they quiet? Happy?” He recommends that you note details such as:

Even something simple that employees keep on their desks can give you valuable insight into company culture, he says: “Do they have plants and pictures of their families and things like that, or is it too barren?”

Another clue to look out for is whether other employees are cooperating or keeping to themselves.

These factors don’t necessarily indicate a workplace is toxic, Augustine says, but they can help candidates determine whether the company culture is a good fit. If not, “you’ll want to run for the door,” he says.

How can candidates respond?

If you decide that you no longer want to take on this role, it is best to let the company know immediately.

It might seem odd to tell a company that you’re withdrawing your candidacy, but Augustine recommends sending a follow-up email with a simple script:

“Thank you so much for your time today. I enjoyed learning more about your organization. Upon further reflection, I do not believe this role would be a good fit for me. I wish you good luck in your search for a candidate.”

Regardless of how the interview goes, “you will always maintain your dignity, your dignity, your professionalism,” says Augustine.

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