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People List 30 Major Red Flags To Spot During A Job Interview That Scream ‘Bad Working Environment’
We all survive not one, not ten but a solid amount of job interviews throughout our lives. It would be hard to find a person who genuinely enjoys them unless they’re on the opposite end of the table and sit in the shoes of a recruiter.
And although many people dread them, every now and then we still have to pass them in order to stay in the increasingly competitive job market.
Sometimes, however, job seekers become too desperate to sell themselves and land a job so they forget that the company that’s interviewing them should also impress you. We may even be blind to the telling signs that show this workplace is not just unworthy of your attention, it’s downright toxic.
So today we looked at a handful of illuminating Reddit threads that got people sharing the red flags that scream not just walk, but run from this workplace, closing the door behind you. More telling signs of a job you do not want can be found in our previous article.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Didn't even get to the interview. Got a call to set up interview. I say ok, I can do Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. He says "I need you to come in today." Okay. I need a job so I say I can try, where do I need to go. He was an hour away by car. I said I couldn't and he got all huffy. Like dude, if you're this shitty when I don't work for you I don't even want to know how you treat employees.
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#2
I was once asked during a job interview about my tolerance to verbal abuse. When the person noticed that I was a bit taken aback by the question, he quickly followed up and said the keep in mind that he was asking about VERBAL abuse and not Physical abuse. I immediately realized that this would not be a job for me and I excused myself from further consideration for the position.
#3
In a lot of industries, "We work really long hours sometimes, so we're really looking for someone who's willing to put in the hours and is interested in making a bigger impact" is code for "we're looking for someone to sacrifice their weekends on the alter of our arbitrary goals and expectations because we can't be bothered to pay a second person for this role."
“The biggest piece of advice I can give relating to any red flags that arise during an interview is to take them seriously,” Christine Mitterbauer, a licensed and ICF-approved career coach and serial entrepreneur told Bored Panda in an interview.
“Often when we go for interviews, we focus so hard on performing well and getting the job offer, that we forget that an interview is a two-way process. This is also a chance for you to decide whether the job is right for you,” the career coach explained.
#4
When you walk through the site and you don't see a single person smiling. I don't mean those fake customer service smiles, either. If everyone there looks miserable I'm out, life is too short for that.
#5
"Would you be willing to give up a few vacation days to help out some of your fellow co-workers finish their work?"
lol nope
FakeOptimist 2 years ago
If they can't finish their work they are either not qualified or overworked...
#6
My father-in-law said he recently had an interview at a place and some of the perks were food: breakfast lunch and dinner were all provided.
... wait why would I need dinner?
I don't plan on being here for dinner.
That was a red flag if i've every heard one.
According to Mitterbauer, red flags are often based on hunches, but hunches are based on subconscious experiences gathered over time. “You really should listen to it if you want to avoid falling into the trap of just accepting an offer because you ‘got it’,” she said.
Mitterbauer’s advice is to go into the interview with an open mind, having done thorough research on the role and company beforehand, and collect some important questions. “Be prepared to walk out of the interview if it didn’t feel right, even if you can’t immediately put your finger on why.”
What’s more, “never accept an offer right there and then, always say you need to think about it/ discuss it with your partner. Often when we sleep on things, we wake up seeing things with new eyes and a fresh perspective.”
#7
I always ask directly "have you ever had to lay off employees as a result of budgeting issues?"
I don't want to lose my job because someone couldn't responsibly allocate the funds to pay me.
#8
I used to be in commercial fishing, and one of ny first skippers gave me this advice:
When you're checking out a potential boat to take a position on make sure to look in the engine room first. If it's neat, clean, and orderly then that's a solid boat to work on. If it's filthy, cluttered, and in disarray then get off the boat and don't take the job.
#9
Anyone using the phrase "work hard and play hard" during the interview
When asked what are the signs that a workplace is not for you, Mitterbauer said that any bad feeling you got during an interview, “whether it was due to what was asked or said, or the way it was communicated by the interviewer, is a red flag that you shouldn’t ignore.”
“Even if you can’t put your finger on why it gave you a bad reaction, sleep on it, and consider discussing the experience with someone close to you. Particularly, some signs could be the interviewer putting pressure on you, saying something that sounds too good to be true, or saying anything that simply goes against your personal values,” the career coach concluded.
#10
If they ask if you are on medications and if so, what medications and why?
#11
He asked me (on the phone) whether I was good looking? He asked me what my body was like etc. I was like okay, I’m going to hang up now. This was a job advertised in the London Evening Standard, a respected newspaper. They were really pissed off when I told them and this guy must have realized he crossed a line because he wouldn’t answer the phone when they tried to get in touch.
What pisses me off is that I was so desperate for work that I stayed on that phone a few moments longer than I should have instead of telling him to f—k off straight away. I hate it when people in a position of power abuse it.
Edit: I’m a woman. If you’re wondering whether I’m good looking and what my body is like I have been told that by goblin standards I am quite a beauty.
#12
People who visibly show they haven’t looked at your resume. I have no issues go in depth about my experience or things that may need clarification. But, to blatantly not know anything about the person interviewing shows they don’t even value their potential employees at a minimum.
#13
Was invited to interview for a remote position, but did some research and found out they made employees install software that took a photo of their face every 9 minutes to ensure they weren’t goofing off. Can you imagine? I don’t want my employer to have a huge collection of the awkward a*s facial expressions I make. Declined interview.
#14
Asking for a feee before you can get started.
Angersly 2 years ago
Used to see these scams decades ago when I used the classifieds to find jobs.
SarahBee 2 years ago
^ I was going to say that. Someone I know was told that he could be in on the ground floor of a big opportunity if he brought in a large sum of money (something like $100k). After a few months, he was let go, leaving the money with the scammers. I'm not sure if he got his money back, but I still can't believe he fell for that.
Cpt. Robert Christian 2 years ago
Some agencies charge "exam study supplies and testing fees" for you to take a Firefighter exam. Some places have even considered charging a "nominal fee", to go through the Fire Academy
Curtis Johnson 2 years ago
Applied for a clerk job with tge KCMo Police Department on two occasions. Was told I would have to pass a lie detector test given by a third party. It would cost me 75 dollars.
Andrew Bowman 2 years ago
Uh... Nope. Lie detector: fine. I pay for it? That's absurd.
Load More Replies...
#15
Interview was at 10AM, they made me wait until 10:45 before someone could finally see me.
First question they asked me was how I feel about working overtime. They asked me another 2-3 times if I was REALLY sure I was okay with it, which tells me that A. They're going to make me work over a lot and B. they've had people quit shortly after being hired because this job clearly SUCKS.
When I asked them to describe the work environment/culture, one guy says they get at each other's throats sometimes and its intense, but they're like a big dysfunctional family. No thanks.
#17
I'm actually looking out for a job and the other day the HR asked why I wanted to leave my current job. I said I was done with 12hr shifts and being forced to work an extra day on a weekend on a small incentive.
He said, "That's how outsourcing works my friend"
I politely refused.
#18
When asked if they had a radius requirement (that I needed to live within X miles in case of emergency), they laughed and said "doesn't matter, you won't be going [home] very often."
#19
Right after college I got an interview to be a store manager for an Abercrombie and Fitch clothing store. Before the interview I was told to dress in my own personal style but that "in" clothes would be preferred. I was then given a list of what that meant. At the interview I was asked to make fun of or be judgmental of people walking around us, what they were wearing, their style, Hair styles, designs on shirts etc. For example, when a lady walked past us wearing jeans and red Mickey Mouse sweatshirt. The lady interview me scoffed and said, can you believe her wearing that out in public? I mean what is she? like 12."
​
I shrugged and said "What does it matter if that's her style?"
​
I didn't get the job. I realized she was trying to see if I was a judgmental prick and when I wasn't she chose not to hire me. Later on I found out this was a standard practice for Abercrombie.
#20
"We're a human-sized company with a great start up spirit"
--> Unpaid extra hours + micro management
#21
I went to a job interview and it was very informal. The office looked like it was still getting put together, and not very organized. They told me there were going to be several interviews, and the second interview was going to be like shadowing someone, and that I should wear comfortable shoes. I straight up asked if it was a door-to-door sales type gig and they found some bullshit way to try and say that it wasn't. But it totally was.
Stay away from these places.
Tucson Dispatch 2 years ago
UNFORTUNATELY IVE BEEN CAUGHT UP IN THESE MLM BEFORE. UGHH MAKES ME FEEL GROSS JUST THINKING ABOUT IT.
#22
Years ago, I applied for a job at taco bell. The manager set up a day and time for me and we sat down in the dining room and he talked about his life for well over an hour. His ex wives, his old band, the thrills of hitchhiking.
Then he shook my hand and said “whenever we get an opening, I’ll keep you in mind.”
I got suckered into listening to a life story for no job.
#23
They started asking me if I was married, if my significant other worked full time, and if we were ever planning to have kids.
Edit: I'm a gal. I was probably 25 or 26 at the time.
#25
I had a job offer me "unpaid bonus hours" as a form of "community service"
Karen Philpott 2 years ago
If you give the community help then you'd do it in your own time as a 'donation' of your time. If you do it in work time you should get paid. We have banks here that allow their staff to do some community service to some of those charities they sponsor. They get paid for their time.
#26
Not every time, but I've noticed when they seem too excited and eager to hire you, there's a reason and it's not your resume.
Definitely ask about the rate of turnover.
Lisa Miller 2 years ago
Happened to me earlier this year with a global insurance/risk management company. Interviewed, got the job offer email two hours later. Gave me the salary I asked for, no questions asked. Took the job worked one week and said f*ck this. I initially thought they really wanted me for my experience and knowledge, turns out they were just desperate for people. I could have told them I was an axe murdering cannibal and they would have just asked me when can I start.
#27
When they ask you if you have any questions for them and you ask "what is your favorite thing about your job/working for this company?" And they reply "Well I'm not the one being interviewed..." proceeds to answer and then says "...was that good enough for you?" Immediately made me realize that even if I did get a job offer, I did not want to work for someone like that.
#28
Interviewer has visible anger issues with other staff. I encountered this at the beginning of my career. They didn't hire me, which was good.
FakeOptimist 2 years ago
So the interviewer was someone who can't even pretend to be professional towards collegues.....
#29
I'm a teacher.
When you ask about discipline procedures/administrative support and they skirt around the question, run for the hills.
A sketchy answers means is that you will either be stressed because admin won't answer your pleas for help/view you calling them as a sign of weakness, or flabbergasted that an administrator would jump to conclusions about your classroom management without consulting you first.
#30
Had an interview where the interviewer said "so you probably made what like $40k last year?" I had made double that and knew if I went with this company I'd only make a little more than $40k.
If he hadn't said that I probably would have taken the job.
What do you think ?
Johnny 2 years ago
My worst interview was at a growing tech company and the interviewer used the red-flag phrase "work-hard, play-hard". And to prove it, his "desk" was in an open area and two workers were playing foosball (loudly) about 3 feet behind the interviewer's chair, I couldn't understand half what he was saying due to the cheers and grunts of the players... and every so often the interviewer would turn around and give one of the players a high-five after a big score. They asked me in for a second interview, I declined... I can't play that hard while I'm supposed to be working.
Lisa H 2 years ago
Had an interview once, where, if hired, they fully expected me to completely change my hairstyle (I have dreadlocks and apparently those weren't allowed) and during the interview, they expected me to enthusiastically know everything about the company, basically be a fangirl. It was for a car wash. A damn car wash. Oh, and we're expected to work in the hot sun (100°F+ during the summer) while in full uniform at all times, which was a long sleeved shirt and long black pants and we can only keep water in the office, not actually near us. I didn't work there.
Destiny Kruse 2 years ago
I just left a job where only two of its employees had been there longer than three months. More than half had been there less than six weeks. I found out that six people quit in one week alone. It paid well but even that wasn't enough to stop the ludicrously high turn over rate.
Ladytron 2 years ago
Yeah. Always ask how long people have worked there. It usually tell you pretty much all you need to know about the workplace in one question.
Load More Replies... 
Craig Silberman 2 years ago
I guess "job interview red flags" is going to be a weekly feature of Bored Panda from now on
Deborah Harris2 2 years ago
I wanted to change from a full time job to a part time one ... The worst job interview I had was at a call centre where the telesales people were stood up phoning people and expected to stand all day. The interviewer asked me to pick up a Welsh flag and run up and down the sales room full of young recruits on the telephone whilst waving the flag in the air and shouting words of encouragement to people talking to actual customers. I just looked at him and said No.
Briana Landers 2 years ago
Good luck spotting any of these in a hospital! They literally want you to code switch the entire time your there. Fake smiles fake enthusiasm everyone talks about everyone and hates the other shift it's actually chaos and we aren't really allowed to push for better conditions/enviorment
Astha SINGH 2 years ago
Last month, I carried myself into 6 interviews at a fully remote work role, big-a*s software development company. And what is crazy, is that i got the weird feeling that it won't work for me in 2nd interview itself- when the 2nd interviewer just made notes to questions i had to ask them (was asked to ask questions that i had) most uncomfortable. 3rd interviewer had the most fake smile i had ever seen, 4th interviewer kept on badgering for non-domain, job related questions and when i asked why is he doing that- was told those were the only set of questions he received and it was his first time taking such an interview. My last straw was when i was asked for 2 more rounds with first and second person, for they had more clarification questions. Smelling weirdness, i called up the recruiter directly and was told that they already like some one else. I was like, tf! Who has 2 hours of talktime - just for a rejection and that too- it ain't going to be shared in the same calls.
Lunar 2 years ago
I had one interview where, while waiting, someone else walked into the meeting room and has this most sour face I have ever seen as if I have killed her entire family. Then during the interview, as I answered the interview questions in a cheerful mode, the interviewer asked what was so funny. I rejected second interview.
Himory TheDreamer 2 years ago
I've never been to an interview, however I overheard one that was full of red flags. 1. The interview was happening where I, someone waiting for something completely different, could see and hear everything 2. The interviewer was asking some very personal questions about the person's relationships and kids, it was making me uncomfortable to hear, can't imagine the person having to answer that
Johnny 2 years ago
My worst interview was at a growing tech company and the interviewer used the red-flag phrase "work-hard, play-hard". And to prove it, his "desk" was in an open area and two workers were playing foosball (loudly) about 3 feet behind the interviewer's chair, I couldn't understand half what he was saying due to the cheers and grunts of the players... and every so often the interviewer would turn around and give one of the players a high-five after a big score. They asked me in for a second interview, I declined... I can't play that hard while I'm supposed to be working.
Lisa H 2 years ago
Had an interview once, where, if hired, they fully expected me to completely change my hairstyle (I have dreadlocks and apparently those weren't allowed) and during the interview, they expected me to enthusiastically know everything about the company, basically be a fangirl. It was for a car wash. A damn car wash. Oh, and we're expected to work in the hot sun (100°F+ during the summer) while in full uniform at all times, which was a long sleeved shirt and long black pants and we can only keep water in the office, not actually near us. I didn't work there.
Destiny Kruse 2 years ago
I just left a job where only two of its employees had been there longer than three months. More than half had been there less than six weeks. I found out that six people quit in one week alone. It paid well but even that wasn't enough to stop the ludicrously high turn over rate.
Ladytron 2 years ago
Yeah. Always ask how long people have worked there. It usually tell you pretty much all you need to know about the workplace in one question.
Load More Replies... Craig Silberman 2 years ago
I guess "job interview red flags" is going to be a weekly feature of Bored Panda from now on
Deborah Harris2 2 years ago
I wanted to change from a full time job to a part time one ... The worst job interview I had was at a call centre where the telesales people were stood up phoning people and expected to stand all day. The interviewer asked me to pick up a Welsh flag and run up and down the sales room full of young recruits on the telephone whilst waving the flag in the air and shouting words of encouragement to people talking to actual customers. I just looked at him and said No.
Briana Landers 2 years ago
Good luck spotting any of these in a hospital! They literally want you to code switch the entire time your there. Fake smiles fake enthusiasm everyone talks about everyone and hates the other shift it's actually chaos and we aren't really allowed to push for better conditions/enviorment
Astha SINGH 2 years ago
Last month, I carried myself into 6 interviews at a fully remote work role, big-a*s software development company. And what is crazy, is that i got the weird feeling that it won't work for me in 2nd interview itself- when the 2nd interviewer just made notes to questions i had to ask them (was asked to ask questions that i had) most uncomfortable. 3rd interviewer had the most fake smile i had ever seen, 4th interviewer kept on badgering for non-domain, job related questions and when i asked why is he doing that- was told those were the only set of questions he received and it was his first time taking such an interview. My last straw was when i was asked for 2 more rounds with first and second person, for they had more clarification questions. Smelling weirdness, i called up the recruiter directly and was told that they already like some one else. I was like, tf! Who has 2 hours of talktime - just for a rejection and that too- it ain't going to be shared in the same calls.
Lunar 2 years ago
I had one interview where, while waiting, someone else walked into the meeting room and has this most sour face I have ever seen as if I have killed her entire family. Then during the interview, as I answered the interview questions in a cheerful mode, the interviewer asked what was so funny. I rejected second interview.
Himory TheDreamer 2 years ago
I've never been to an interview, however I overheard one that was full of red flags. 1. The interview was happening where I, someone waiting for something completely different, could see and hear everything 2. The interviewer was asking some very personal questions about the person's relationships and kids, it was making me uncomfortable to hear, can't imagine the person having to answer that
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