People List 30 Major Red Flags To Spot During A Job Interview That Scream ‘Bad Working Environment’

“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.

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.”

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.