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Looking for a job can be frustrating. It’s an arduous process that requires a lot of time and preparation, and even with all that, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you will get the job.

But being on the other side of the process is arguably not that much easier. The hiring managers, too, have to invest a lot of time and effort into finding the right fit for a certain vacancy. But over time, it becomes easier for them to do; after talking to hundreds—if not thousands—of applicants, they know what to be on the lookout for.

Recently, a group of hiring managers delved deeper into the topic after one member of the ‘Ask Reddit’ community asked them about the subtle red flags that say, "This person won't be a good hire." They gave examples and shared stories, which might come in handy when it’s time for you to look for a job, so you might want to scroll down to find their answers on the list below and read them carefully.

#1

Recruiters observe potential employee at desk with dual monitors and coding on screen. A guy i know that works in the IT industry told me when a girl he interviewed for a junior Developer job had a complete meltdown and completely froze. The interview ended akwardly and that was that.

A couple days later the girl sent an email explaining she had issues with anxiety and asked for a second chance. Of course my friend gave her that chance, she nailed it and got hired. She now works as a product owner after 5 years with the company.

luddoro , ThisisEngineering/unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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    #2

    Recruiters discussing potential employee red flags in a job interview setting. Men that avoid eye contact or direct communication with women. Lots of men in my field (STEM) don’t want to interact with women and will answer questions from female interviewers as though the man sitting next to her had asked it. I refuse to hire anyone with that BS attitude.

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    CrunChewy McSandybutt
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Luckily, I haven't had this experience with the engineers I work with, despite being in the Cybersecurity field.

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    #3

    Restaurant employee setting tables in a modern dining room, potential employee context. My favorite story of red flags was when I screened resumes for a restaurant. A couple walked in dirty, disheveled and reeking of w**d (this is long before it was legal) and asked for applications (they were paper then). They popped at the bar to fill them out and the woman goes "babe, babe, what's my zip code? I'm soooo high right now!" 


    Then about 5 min later as they're handing the applications to me the guy goes "hey, are we getting interviewed now? I got kids in the car." The woman interrupted "they're fine, they're in car seats." I was horrified it was JANUARY! Ran the papers up to the owner in her office, repeated both comments. She looks outside, jots down the plate number and called the local cops. When the cops got there the two of them were trying to get free beers from the bar manager. I'm not sure what happened from there. When I clocked out the cops had them outside and CPS was involved.


    So yeah. Don't come to apply for a job/have an interview high, smelling and begging for booze while your toddlers wait in the car in the cold. .

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    Earonn -
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No, PLEASE DO. Because this story ended well for the kids. (And yes, I'm aware that the happy ending relied on the great response by the owner)

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    In a recent interview with Bored Panda, the OP shared that they have been on both sides of a job interview—the one who wants a vacancy filled and the one looking to fill it.

    “I have been giving interviews for my previous job for five years and then interviewing for a year after leaving that position,” they said, adding that, when it comes to being on the company’s side, the most challenging part of interviewing is candidates not showing up. “It’s such a huge waste of time,” they noted.

    #4

    Damaged car front with crumpled metal, highlighting potential red flags. I once had a guy show up (late) with blood all over his face and clothes looking really disheveled. Typically, I don’t waste my time with people who can’t even make it to their interview on time. But this guy said that he was in a car accident on his way to the interview and got there as soon as he could.

    After the interview he asked if there was any way he could get a ride back to where his car was. Believing his story, I offered him the ride. This man’s car was nearly FIVE MILES AWAY, legitimately crashed, and it turns out someone had broke into his car and stolen his child’s car seat and his stereo system during the couple hours he was gone.

    I hired him. He turned out to be really difficult to work with but the guy was a programming genius. Kept him for years before he moved on.

    I don’t hire liars. This guy wasn’t 1.

    van_ebasion , Clark Van Der Beken/unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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    #5

    "ChatGPT interface highlighting capabilities; relevant to recruiters' red flags in employees." When asked about their experience with a topic, they stick to reciting textbook definitions of terminology rather than demonstrating any understanding of how to apply it.

    Had one person who was literally forwarding our questions into ChatGPT, and then reciting rambling answers that provided definitions of keywords in our questions rather than actually answering the question. Like, we'd ask "What's something a previous employer or educator has recognized you for?", and they'd answer: "Examples of things that an employer might recognize an employee for are...".

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    Papa
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Anyone who would do that is too stupid to hire.

    The OP shared that throughout their career they have seen many “not-so-subtle red flags.” But when talking about the more subtle ones, they said that viewing working with kids as fun would be one of them.

    “[A subtle red flag when hiring would be] people who thought working with kids would be ‘a lot of fun.’ While it is fun, it's also challenging, and if you're only in it for the fun, it's going to be rough,” they explained.

    #6

    Recruiters in a meeting, discussing potential employees, with a handshake across the table in a professional setting. Showing up to the interview with a parent in tow. I've had this happen twice and both times I refused to go through with the interview. Grow up people! You don't need mommy or daddy with you at your professional job interview!

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    Chris
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I wouldn't be surprised if it was the parent that was the problem, insisting going with them to the interview.

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    #7

    Job interview scene, recruiter reviewing candidate's resume, focusing on potential red flags. I had a dude just straight up say he doesn't like black people during his interview.

    nonamesareavailable2 , Tima Miroshnichenko/pexels (not the actual photo) Report

    #8

    Skyscrapers against a cloudy sky, symbolizing recruiting challenges in corporate environments. I once interviewed someone who told me she technically wasn't allowed to be in the building because someone on another floor had a restraining order against her.

    Silent_Radish_3841 , Sean Pollock/unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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    While it’s crucial for the company representative to be attentive to any of the so-called red flags an interviewee might raise, the latter should also listen carefully to what’s being said; or on the contrary—omitted.

    According to Forbes, one of the red flags to indicate that the company itself might be something to run away from is the interviewer advising the interviewee against asking questions. In addition to that, they might respond with vague, perfect answers, badmouth other people, or adorn the conversation with inappropriate questions or remarks—all of which are not ideal, either, and should indicate that the company might not be a good fit.

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    #9

    Recruiter discussing red flags with potential employee at a desk filled with colorful documents. When interviewing people I always try to find a way to subtly disagree or challenge one of their positions (whether I really disagree or not) and their reactions mostly fall in 3 categories.

    1. They agree with me/take it as a learning opportunity (green flag)
    2. They confidently back up their claim with supporting statements (very green flag)
    3. They get defensive/territorial that I’ve challenged them (red flag).

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    B Hobbs
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    One could argue about 3 being a red flag. There is the slight possibility that the interviewee is an expert in what is being challenged. The interviewee might stomp out, calling you an idiot and doesn't want to work at a company that hires idiots. Very slight possibility but not zero.

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    #10

    Person typing on a laptop, highlighting recruiters' red flags in potential employees. Candidate submitted a take-home test by email. They forgot to excise the text of the email reply chain with their buddy in which, if you scrolled far enough you could see: a) their buddy helped them with the test (actually, buddy did most of it) & b) the two of them weighing up the finer points of a d**g deal they were participating in.

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    Matteic
    Community Member
    3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Thank you for doing our background check for us, guys!"

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    #11

    Two colleagues arguing in an office, potential red flag for recruiters. It's a really, really bad idea to be combative with the interviewer. I'm legit trying to help you succeed and I make a concerted* effort to make you feel at ease. If a question or request doesn't make sense to you, that's fine - let's talk about it. If you answer defensively, bordering on aggression, it's *really* not going to go well. And you may get the answer right but the question I'm asking myself is if I want to deal with you every day. Especially considering this was likely your best behavior.

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    Continuing about red flags on the company’s side, Forbes also pointed out an organization requesting time-consuming, free work, asking you to do an assignment that’s not a part of the job description, constantly rescheduling or ghosting you, not giving you a chance to speak but offering you a job nevertheless, and rushing you to make an immediate decision. All of these warning signs should not be overlooked, even if you really, really, really want to get a job.

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    #12

    Two men in white shirts, one comforting the other, possibly discussing red flags in potential employees. He cried. Never had that happen before and threw me off. He was unemployed and really needed a job. He was not a good match for the job he applied for, but the recruiter and me gave him tips and tricks for the next interview. Hope he made it.

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    Child of the Stars
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Stress, I would imagine. I'm a crier when I'm under stress (I've learned some calming skills and am better about it now when it's not appropriate), but I can empathize with the guy. Kudos to the interviewer and recruiter for trying to help him.

    #13

    Man in pajamas sitting on bed, showing signs of stress or discomfort, relating to red flags recruiters see in employees. They are wearing pajamas. I had to hire entry level staff to work for an airline - everything from checking people in to pushing wheelchairs and throwing luggage. Over the course of 2 weeks of hiring I had 3 different people show up for interviews wearing their pajamas (one of them had a robe a doo rag, and a beat up stuffed animal and kept sucking on a pacifier).

    Needless to say, I didn't hire any of them, but, to this day I still don't get why they bothered to set up the appointment, take the time and effort to get there, get through security, etc, but didn't think it was important to put on actual clothing.

    IcyAd7982 , Andrea Piacquadio/pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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    Earonn -
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That sounds like mental health problems or an attempt to not get a job while obeying some rule that they have to apply for jobs?

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    #14

    Three recruiters in a meeting, focusing on discussing potential employee red flags. I interviewed this lady, and she brought up how she had an issue with an old coworker, and at the end of it she said the coworker died of cancer. Of course, I said "oh I'm sorry" or something similar, and she responds with "she got what she deserved."

    Yeah, No thank you.

    HandsLikePaper , Tim Gouw/unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Talking about the current state of the job market, the OP pointed out that the situation is quite tough at the moment. “While unemployment is down, there are not as many jobs available as there were a few years ago,” they noted. But, as for everyone looking for a job, we hope that the thread started by the OP is something you will find useful.

    “I wish everyone currently looking [for a job] some good luck, and hopefully some of the advice listed here helps!” the redditor said.

    #15

    Woman enjoying a Starbucks drink by the window, reflecting on employee red flags for recruiters. I'm sorry I'm late for the interview it took a bit longer at Starbucks than I'm used to.

    Far_Investigator9251 , Marcelo Chagas/pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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    tarryn norwich
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    As a former barista, this happens a lot. Then we're the bad guys for being busy.

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    #16

    Man presenting to a group of recruiters about red flags in potential employees. I’d say not being aware of who you’re applying to is a big red flag.


    I once worked for a local retailer in Maine, and at the time they did group interviews for potential employees. This was likely to see how well we’d be able to speak to customers and build team camaraderie.

    We had just gotten to the Q&A part of the interview where everyone was asked the most low-ball question of “What do you love about the outdoors?”
    Well this one older lady very loudly and proudly informed the room that she does NOT like going outside. She said it was full of animals and bugs, always got her shoes dirty, and she has everything she loves inside her house.

    We were applying for L. L. Bean, whose motto is literally “Be An Outsider” so safe to say she didn’t get hired.

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    KYLE
    Community Member
    3 weeks ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sure this lady didn't play the game to land the job, but in retail though, you don't necessarily have to DO the thing that you're selling. Not every car salesman is a ❛car guy❜, not every person that works a book store is an veracious reader. Home Depot is not employed only by qualified carpenters. With enough knowledge of the job, outdoor gear, sports equipment, books, anyone can do it.

    #17

    Recruiter assessing potential employee during an interview in a modern office setting. Was giving an interview, maybe 20 minutes long. The lady being interviewed asked if she could go outside and smoke a cigarette.

    Fury161Houston , Edmond Dantès/pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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    #18

    Employers Share What Made Them Reject Job Candidates Right Away During The Interview Subtle: he didn't have enough characters in his CCNA certificate number.

    Less subtle: I looked it up while his would-be boss asked him some softball questions. Once Cisco said it couldn't be found/tracked, I asked him what was going on. "Oh I'm working on it, should have it in 6 months."

    Yeah, Cisco doesn't give a CCNA cert to someone that's still working to pass the test.

    L0LTHED0G , The Jopwell Collection/unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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    Kristin
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Omg that's like what happened to my husband, he didn't do it but he's been a trucker for over 25 years and his family also owns a trucking company but my husband ended up becoming a manager for coca cola and a guy came in and applied for a position which requires a CDL and he put on his resume he had his CDL and come to find out he didn't have it and told my husband he was working on getting it 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

    #19

    Employers Share What Made Them Reject Job Candidates Right Away During The Interview Had a management position open and a quality applicant came in on time and was well-dressed for interview. Halfway through we had a great interview and I could sense he was already sure he had the job. His body language started changing and he relaxed more and more, pushing back from the table and stretching his arms, eventually a full backstretch with a yawn. Then he proceeded to order pizza for his daughter and himself so it would be there when he got home. He started discussing the commute and how much time he would have to dock from the workday for that. Shook his hand and never spoke to him again.

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    Dusty's mom
    Community Member
    3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What is it they say about counting chickens while they're still eggs?

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    #20

    Employers Share What Made Them Reject Job Candidates Right Away During The Interview When I call in a group to interview I give simple instructions. Bring Your ID, a pen, a piece of paper. 90% of the people who show fail to bring those 3 things and immediately get rejected. Can't follow simple instructions then why in the hell would I trust you with #1000's of equipment on jobs where you could cost me 10s of $1000s.

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    Earonn -
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I would forget to bring paper BECAUSE I'M COMING TO YOUR COMPANY. Why would I bring my own paper? If anything, it would prove that I can't think logically and that the boos only wants stupid yes-men. No thanks.

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    #21

    Man in a job interview with recruiter, discussing potential employee red flags; plants and computer in the background. "One of my weaknesses is I work too hard,"

    Edit: Thank you all for the comments. I think this question is stupid and needs to be rephrased. When I get asked this question, I like to answer it by talking about self-improvement.

    Here's mine: if I come up on a problem, my first instict is to dive right in and start figuring stuff out. Sometimes, this causes me to miss something, e.g., there is already a document that exists to solve the exact problem, and if I would have taken 5 minutes to stop, think, and utilize resources, I wouldn't be going in circles.

    ocdano714 , shurkin_son/freepik (not the actual photo) Report

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    CrunChewy McSandybutt
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Mine is, "I tend to focus on too many things at once and end up chasing my tail. When this happens, I stop and tell myself, 'one thing at a time, CrunChewy.'"

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    #22

    Job candidate in interview, seated across from recruiter, highlighting potential employee red flags in bright office setting. I can teach anything but giving a damn. If your interview doesnt show you give a damn, it was a waste. Ask questions people, like you are sincerely trying to determine what the role is and entails.

    tristanjones , pressfoto/freepik (not the actual photo) Report

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    Scott Rackley
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If you're interviewing me, you've asked for a toolmaker. If the job says toolmaker, I know what it entails, and I'm qualified. Let's get on to the compensation you still haven't told me about.

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    #23

    A woman working on a laptop surrounded by industrial equipment, exemplifying recruitment red flags in a technical setting. I'm a mechanical engineer and I have to interview candidates from time to time.


    In general i give them a really simple technical question that I would expect a highschooler to solve. It's literally going to be things like, "calculated the force on this object."


    The more you deviate away from, "force equals mass times acceleration," the more i know you are going to be a bad hire.


    Not only does it show a fundamental misunderstanding of the material at hand. It also shows me that when you don't know the answer, you're prone to taking up meeting time endlessly pointing out true but impossible to solve problems. .

    Ashi4Days , ThisisEngineering/unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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    Lyoness
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I am far beyond high school and didn't know that. But then again I'm not an engineer.

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    #24

    Employers Share What Made Them Reject Job Candidates Right Away During The Interview I used to host Zoom interviews for a bit. The amount of people who would be 10+ minutes late astounded me. It was an immediate no hire for me. If you can’t ~open your laptop and click on a link~ on time, I don’t trust you to show up to shifts on time. Bonus points for being late + obviously laying in bed. .

    Zadsta , LinkedIn Sales Solutions/unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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    Cas P
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Very often it is Zoom that is the problem. As an interviewer and interviewee I have had this from both sides of the table.

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    #25

    Employers Share What Made Them Reject Job Candidates Right Away During The Interview Many of you dont know what subtle is. A person being openly racist or late for the interview isn't subtle. .

    Dont_Test_Deanna , LinkedIn Sales Solutions/unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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    Parmer Engineering
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    Everyone has different definitions of racist these days.

    #26

    A woman talking on the phone with a laptop on her lap, possibly discussing red flags in potential employees. I work in politics and hire a lot of entry level positions. With some firms, the only qualification is a pulse.

    In the screening call (pre interview) I ask them about an issue that they care about. This is to first w**d out anyone that doesn't have a clue what is going on and also to w**d out someone on the other side of the aisle (it very much is a partisan position).

    One person last year slipped up and somehow passed the screening call. In our office, there were cardboard cutouts of 3 prominent political figures (2 presidents and a VP, all household names at this point). He got to the office, saw the cardboard cutouts, and asked who they were.

    crazycatlady331 , Magnet.me/unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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    SaladSpinner3000
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So, BP now censors the word "w.e.e.d" as in sorting out or eliminating applicants. What if I weed a garden as in pulling out weeds. FFS.

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    #27

    Young person in a casual meeting setting, wearing glasses and a cap, discussing red flags seen by recruiters. If they’re 23 and don’t have 15+ years of experience in their field.

    djnastynipple , freepik (not the actual photo) Report

    #28

    Man looking confused during a job interview, potential employee red flags being assessed by recruiter. Most of these answers aren't "subtle" at all. An example of a subtle red flag in an interview is someone who can ONLY provide examples of how they helped the group achieve goals. If you give them lots of opportunity to talk about how they overcame challenges, dealt with unexpected results, had to adjust timelines, etc. and they can only give examples of how "WE" solved the problem, I've found that to be a red flag.

    You may initially think "this person seems to be a real team player and collaborates on everything", but my anecdotal experience with this type of employee is that they, more often than not, tend to be freeloaders who skate by by just being in close proximity to the action, but not doing much themselves. As soon as you give them direct responsibility for an initiative, they don't know what to do or they try to p**n it off on those around them under the guise of 'being collaborative'.

    So my advice during an interview, make sure you explain exactly how *you specifically* took action to solve the issue. I don't care about the end state of your project; I care about the logic, drive, and responsibility you demonstrated in getting there.

    specs90 , freepik (not the actual photo) Report

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    Joseph Miller
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I _might_ be more willing to censor por n, but paw n? Unbelievable!

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    #29

    Two people having a discussion at a table with a recruiter potential employees focus. I had a perfectly nice woman come in for an interview. Lied about her education. I knew because the diploma mill she listed quite famously doesn't exist anymore, but she said she was a current student set to graduate in 2 years.

    Honestly, if she hadn't lied, we would have hired her. But once I pointed that out in the post-game meeting, everyone lost any enthusiasm they had.

    Mamapalooza , Christina Morillo/pexels (not the actual photo) Report

    #30

    Two professionals at a desk during an interview, highlighting recruiter red flags in potential employees. I was hiring someone with web development skills. Asked a candidate to tell me about a time they encountered a critical error and how they fixed it. Their response, "Well I was on our website and noticed some information was out of date, a critical error, so I told the web development team we needed to update that critical error.".

    miss_zee , Sora Shimazaki/pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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    HTakeover
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "HR shorted my paycheck... I fixed it by telling them to give me my money!"

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    #31

    Two people in a professional interview setting, discussing potential employee red flags. Due to the nature of roles I interview for, I often get people with PhDs and they split into two categories: 'I've done my homework and I'm ready to answer any question' (good) and 'I am better than this job and you will give it to me, but I'll join the charade' bad, like... really f*****g bad.

    Also: Top tip - if you apply for an information specialist role, don't fudge your own information. We will do due diligence and we will understand whether you are trying to big yourself up, regardless of your background/nationality.

    Klumber , MART PRODUCTION/pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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    #32

    I've done a few interviews, and while not exactly subtle, you'll get passed over if you don't have an answer for a standard interview question. My workplace like many large firms interviews with preprepared questions and a scoring template in an effort to remove bias. If you don't have an answer, you get the minimum score for that section which will often put you behind anyone that didn't bomb the interview.

    Folks, always have an example of how you've dealt with workplace conflict, an problem you've found and solved, and a project or task you saw through to completion with how you overcame some challenges. That's some basic stuff right there.

    Also, we have a standard question about the importance of DEI at the start of the interview, and everyone that said "I don't see color" through the panel right off. I understand that it can be said in good faith, but its often a cover phrase for folks that don't really believe in the importance of diversity in the workplace by dismissing the benefits.

    crazyrich Report

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    Bec
    Community Member
    3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Since there is some confusion, DEI is not some extreme affirmative action hiring scheme. Our typical DEI question is to ask about a time you worked with a person of a different culture or background and how you managed working through those differences. We also have to do (admittedly lame) DEI aware hiring training before serving on hiring committees to try to help mitigate bias and remind people what is legal to ask

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    #33

    In IT, not asking any questions. An interview should go both ways. You should ask me about my company and team. Not only does it show interest but it gives you information to make a decision.

    vellian Report

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    Lyoness
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This should be standard for all interviews. At the very least ask why the job is vacant/why they're hiring. Is it a new position? Did the last person leave? Why? Also good is what are the day to day expectations and what their ideal candidate looks like. It gives you the opportunity to prove that it's you.

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    #34

    I once interviewed a woman that was chewing gum the entire time! I don’t remember any of her answers because all I could think was, “I can’t believe she’s chewing gum while talking. “

    Had another lady interviewing for a personal assistant to company owner who said that we could not run a back ground check on her.

    Neither were hired!

    Plankton-007 Report

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    Kristin
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I once interviewed a lady that decided she was gonna eat her sucker mid interview and THEN I'm not even kidding, pulled out her vape pen. I called each candidate letting them know our decision and she asked if there was something she did or said that made her not eligible smdh

    #35

    The same ones you look for when making friends. At the end of the day this person will spend a 3rd of their day or more at the job.

    That being said,
    Super negative
    They never do anything wrong or can't think of something they can improve
    Trash talking their former employer
    Talking more than listening (cutting you off)

    Etc.

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    Kristin
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ive always been a firm believer that someone who cuts you off never was listening in the first place especially if they turn the conversation about them 🤷‍♀️

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    #36

    I have a few.

    - If they misspell my very common name in the cover letter.

    - If they don't follow the clear rules on how to apply for the job. I had someone send their resume through an email change form ~~for~~ for existing customers. IT said they hadn't realized that was even possible. The kicker was the first line of their letter is 'they keep close attention to detail.'

    - Any mention of 'they don't want me to waste their time.'.

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    #37

    I’m not anyone who makes hiring decision but I’m often invited to interviews to give feedback on candidates.

    Something that almost always kills the offer letter is negativity. We just had a fantastic candidate but she found a way to complain about everything. The state she was from (too boring), the state we are in that she just moved to (too cold), past jobs (too mundane, bad leadership, etc), even some of her family members received jabs (currently living with sister who is too messy). She said everything with a smile on her face and was generally pleasant, but we couldn’t get past the fact that she had something negative to say about EVERYTHING. Doesn’t really scream team player/good fit.

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    #38

    Man wearing headphones, intently looking at a laptop in a quiet workspace, illustrating recruiter red flags awareness. Had two interviews for a software dev position this year that stood out.

    First one, the guy was well into the interview and going through the coding portion when the door opened behind him. A woman stepped in and asked something about reports and to wrap up what he was doing. When she left he turned back to the screen and said he was sorry but he had to go and ended the call.

    Second was a guy who was doing alright but halfway through the interview he just stopped responding to us (call wasn't frozen, he just stopped talking/responding). Then the call just ended and we never heard anything from him again, even after reaching out to see if he had connection issues and wanted to reschedule.

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    #39

    Group of recruiters discussing red flags in potential employees around a conference table in a modern office setting. Trash talk all their previous jobs & managers.

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    Sue User
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I was in an interview that the guy asked nothing but that. Questions like : " tell me something you last job did that got people upset"? Every question was a direct query geared to make you tslk negative about your previous jobs.

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    #40

    Arrogance, being unprepared for even minor questions, not knowing what job role they applied to, not being a good fit in general for the team (i.e. they like to work individually in a role that requires a lot of team work, etc.).

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    #41

    Man in denim jacket during a recruitment interview, highlighting potential employee red flags. I asked someone in an interview why they wanted the job and they said it was just to fill in until they could find something better.

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    #42

    Once a candidate asked whether we do unannounced d**g tests, not joking.

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    #43

    If every question I ask results in a 10-minute story and I can't get a word in, this is not the position for them.

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    Bec
    Community Member
    3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We have a set list of questions and had multiple Zoom meetings set, one guy was so slow with answers we had to stop him even though we were only 2/3 way done

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    #44

    I don't know if it counts as "subtle" or not but the dude had a bunch of p*rnstar posters hanging up in his home office during the zoom interview. I like p*rn as much as the next guy but I don't want to see that s**t when we're doing standups. Maybe if he was Einstein or Tesla or something but he couldn't even code his way out of a paper bag.

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    #45

    Software engineer. I always keep asking questions until I find something they don’t know. If they don’t say “I don’t know” at that point, huge red flag. 

    Nobody knows everything, being able to recognize when you’ve encountered a subject outside of your knowledge is essential .

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    #46

    Anyone that leads with how important it is that his or her boundaries need to be respected is for sure going to be a pain in the a*s to employ.

    Unless you're some rockstar in your field, you should go into any interview with the assumption that there are 10 other people willing to work harder and for less. If you're comfortable enough walking away from the job, then you can hold out and demand more. But if you *need* the job, know that to distinguish yourself, the employer wants to see someone who is going to help him or her succeed.

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    Fellfromthemoon
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So, what kind of boundaries? Those that are guaranteed by the legal system?

    #47

    Called someone up for a phone screening. I was asking her generally easy technical questions to see if she qualified to go through our interview process. She was whispering all her answers and I could barely hear her and I asked her to speak up, and she said she can’t cause she’s in a meeting at work. That’s when I realized that the voice I kept hearing in the background wasn’t a tv but a person speaking, giving a speech or something.

    I told her to try to reschedule with us. We ended up not having her in for an interview.

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    #48

    If they no call/no show for an interview and then call me in a panic a day later. Nope. I’ve had plenty of candidates call before an interview to say they were running late, or had an emergency, they were very ill and had to reschedule — no problem, s**t happens. You might be an awesome candidate on paper, but if the position is not important enough to you to double check your calendar, the confirmation email, etc - then I don’t want you. Maybe you had a brain fart, maybe you had a bad day - but who cares, we all do. Communication is the key. Im not going to hold anyone’s hand. Better luck next time.

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    Sue User
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes, next time i am in a car accident on my way to an interview, i will make sure the EMTs get my phone so I can call on the way to the hospital and let them know.

    #49

    Negative Talk.

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    #50

    Arrogance.

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    #51

    Hands washing under a faucet with soap, symbolizing hygiene, which recruiters might consider a professional red flag. Hygiene.

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    Kristin
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'll never understand why some people don't care about hygiene. I mean you can't possibly like smelling like onions and buttcrack. It's not hard to shower and make an attempt. When I was younger I worked in a call center for Sprint. I had a guy that sat next to me in training and I'm not kidding he smelled so horrible like sour milk and onions then his breath was unbearable and lastly he had his ears gaged and he woukd always take them out. Anyone that knows gaging knows how bad their ears smell if not taken care of.

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    #52

    Main and most common red flags are:

    - They treat employees not related to their interview badly - i.e. being rude to reception/admin or HR staff who do checks/emails to confirm interviews. So many people will be rude to them and then act surprised when I phone them and tell them they have been rejected. Only once did I let someone interview after being rude to admin and that was mainly because it was just so strange (they turned up at the office with their parents in tow because they didn't like they date we offered for the interview and insisted we reschedule - after the first 3 interview questions, I had to end it and call a mental health crisis team because it was clear they were in the midst of a full blown psychosis).

    - They don't research the company they are applying to - so many people think they can sweet talk their way through a full interview without knowing anything at all about the company. The red flag here though isn't that they don't know anything, it's that they made things up. They try to tell you what they know and get it very, very wrong. Even just admitting you don't know is better than getting caught out. You can sort of scape by and show an interest in wanting to learn more about the company and be honest about the little you do know.

    - They avoid giving negatives about themselves completely. Even when I specifically narrow them down to the point and ask them to reflect on a weakness directly - they pick a positive trait and try to downplay it like a weakness. My experience interviewing hundreds of people tell me that this is just a variation of lying and they are usually hiding some big flaws. No one is perfect, I specifically pick out people with weaknesses that we can manage and help them work on. For example I hired someone who said they played off being a perfectionist as a negative and boy were they right. The person couldn't keep up with the workload and eventually quit but the other person I hired who said they had depression and had periods where they struggled with work/life balance was a great fit after giving them flexibility on hours. They were so grateful and happy to be part of a supportive employer they worked twice as hard as anyone else.


    Overall - I've found that people who are very confident at interviews and those who generally score really well are what I call a 50/50 hire - often they are the first to leave and take a better offer at a competitor, or have serious baggage and are often much harder to read as they can talk themselves through an interview easily and hide their flaws or problems, which always come out eventually.

    I feel most comfortable and confident hiring people who are not perfect, but still have a willingness to develop and improve themselves. Usually people in this range are very good at their jobs and just get nervous or struggle giving themselves praise to strangers.

    In the end, the only real way to know is to test them out and see how they get on during probation. The main thing I'd say is make sure you know what kind of person you're looking for and that will guide your decision during interviews. Do you want someone who can hit the ground running and really competent and skilled, but may not last very long or someone who you will likely see much more value out of in the long-term with a bit of development.

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    Earonn -
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I always judged the company by how the people already working there treat the receptionist and each other.

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    #53

    I interviewed a girl that seemed ok. Alittle weird and quirky (but hey, we are all weird). Could have used some more experience in the field, but if we started her with low and she worked her way up it probably would have been fine.

    Another manager took her to your the facility and I got a text from my supervisor to come outside to the parking lot area. He was standing behind this girl’s car and did the quiet loud whisper of “get over quick!” I walk over and there is the LARGEST bumper sticker that says “I EAT A*S”. My supervisor turned and looked at me and said “you are NOT hiring her”. Proceeds to walk away.

    Needless to say with a facility that had kids around frequently we did not hire her. I thought it was kinda funny. Maybe not something you publicly announce though. True irony of it all though was the supervisor was a notorious s**t. Was on Grindr all the time and had his lovers come to the facility. Guess he was a top and not a bottom.

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    #54

    Had one person put down “Instagram and Facebook” in their Skills section. This was for an upper level medical professional position.

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    #55

    Ignoring advice and hints.

    In tech it's pretty common for there to be a dialogue between interviewer and interviewee when doing a difficult problem on the whiteboard. Some problems are actually *designed* so you don't have enough info without asking questions.

    It's okay to struggle a little and need some guidance, but *ignoring* that guidance is pretty much an instant no-hire, even if your solution ends up being pretty close in the end.

    Why? Because we're not just testing your coding skills. We're testing your communication, and how you work with teammates.

    If we hire you, the next time we work on a problem together it might be one where neither of us just *knows* the answer. And in that situation, you need to be able to collaborate instead of just charging past to work on your own idea.

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    #56

    I was in management for a daycare and it became pretty easy to identify the red flags. Unfortunately we were always so hurt for employees we’d hire them anyway.

    I know it’s kind of a meme but if you immediately let me know your sexual orientation I knew it was going to bad. Like I had several candidates essentially open up with how they were gay, their race, and why their life was tough. Which I get it. We are in the south it sucks. But like how do you feel about changing diapers? And we’d hire them anyway and they’d immediately get into it with a parent.

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    #57

    Oh and so many people lie or exaggerate their experience on their resume. Then, when interviewed, they can't answer basic questions about key tasks in the role 😭.

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    #58

    They don't listen at all, just giving shrugs or "whatevers" when describing the job and their duties.

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    #59

    If they bring in their step brother.

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