You don’t mind working overtime if need be now, do you?
The sick days are limited but the pizza during office parties is not!
We’re like a family here, so employees don’t really mind answering a phone call or receiving an email after work.
If you think that these phrases sound like warning signs when said in a job interview, that’s because they most likely are; asking about overtime is arguably the company checking to see how willing you are to go the extra mile, the pizza comment means that you might have to put your work above your health in times when you should be resting, and comparing themselves to a family is only accurate if the family the interviewer is referring to is somewhat dysfunctional.
But these three instances are far from the only signs indicating that a certain workplace might not be the best choice. Members of the ‘Ask Reddit’ community recently discussed more of such indicators, after the user ‘photo_inbloom’ asked them about red flags that everyone should be aware of when attending a job interview.
If you’re curious to learn what red flags netizens described, scroll down to find them on the list below, where you will also find Bored Panda’s interviews with the OP themselves and with the director of Lerner College Career Services Center at the University of Delaware, Jill Panté, who was kind enough to answer a few of our questions on job interviews.
#21
A major red flag to watch for during a job interview is if the interviewer or company representative speaks negatively about current or former employees. This behavior can indicate a toxic work environment where blame and negativity are commonplace.
28points
#22
One of my go-to questions for an interviewer is, "In the past ten years, how many years have your employees received cost-of-living raises that meet or exceed the annual inflation rate? And how often have they also received merit-based increases above and beyond that amount?"
A s****y company won't answer the question.
A good company will give you an honest answer.
A great company will give you an honest answer of "Ten.".
A s****y company won't answer the question.
A good company will give you an honest answer.
A great company will give you an honest answer of "Ten.".
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26points
#23
Making you wait. I had a boss who would do this. We did a lot of interviews, because we had a lot of turnover. Geez, I wonder why. He would say he wanted to see who really wanted it. I would say they’re here early/on time, they want it.
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26points
One thing that can help companies improve their hiring processes while helping interviewees work on their skills, too, is transparency. Discussing this with Bored Panda, Jill Panté pointed out that the more we share with others, the more information and advice people can receive to improve their chances of success.
“Hearing about different experiences can also provide more details surrounding the job search process as a whole, as well as common interview questions, and the best way to answer these questions. By learning from real-life situations, job seekers can adjust their strategies and build confidence for their own interview.”
#24
Had a guy one time ask me how old my children were. I think he was trying to sus out if I would be able to work all kinds of crazy hours. If they pry too much into your personal life, that’s not good.
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25points
#25
When they can’t even bother to look at your resume like bro if you want me to work for you at least fake it.
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23points
#26
"These will be your responsibilities, but you might be asked to do take on this and that role." Prepare to take 3 jobs for the salary of 1.
23points
#27
I went into an interview for a low-level admin position, and they made my put my cell phone in a bucket up front, stating "no phones are allowed in the back. it reduces productivity." Big NOPE for me.
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23points
#28
Bull****t psychological questions clearly designed to throw you off of your practiced material. Like, describe yourself in 3 words.
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22points
#29
If your interview is between 12 to 2, look around. If everyone is at their cubicle eating their lunch. Red flag.
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20points
#30
I interviewed with one of the big ticket networks. It’s based in Southern New England.
The pre-screen call with the hiring manager went well and our views about writing code, source control and documentation were spot on so I thought I’d give it a shot.
When I arrived they took my driver’s license from me and told me they’d hold it while I was on site. Then they wanted to do a credit check while I was taking a series of grammar, basic intelligence and JavaScript tests.
I told them there’s no way I was going to get my credit dinged with a hard credit check before an offer. The woman from HR… just. didn’t. get. it.
I made sure they stopped the credit check, collected my license, and walked out.
I sat in the car for a minute, thinking about the very odd vibe of the place, how they treated me, and wondered about the culture of a place that would do these things.
Since then, they have been outed for a whole bunch of issues, including [big surprise] HR ethics.
Looking back, I never should have considered working in that place.
I’m very happy where I work now, my boss is smart and flexible and I’m doing good work — as opposed to screwing concert goers.
Near miss!
The pre-screen call with the hiring manager went well and our views about writing code, source control and documentation were spot on so I thought I’d give it a shot.
When I arrived they took my driver’s license from me and told me they’d hold it while I was on site. Then they wanted to do a credit check while I was taking a series of grammar, basic intelligence and JavaScript tests.
I told them there’s no way I was going to get my credit dinged with a hard credit check before an offer. The woman from HR… just. didn’t. get. it.
I made sure they stopped the credit check, collected my license, and walked out.
I sat in the car for a minute, thinking about the very odd vibe of the place, how they treated me, and wondered about the culture of a place that would do these things.
Since then, they have been outed for a whole bunch of issues, including [big surprise] HR ethics.
Looking back, I never should have considered working in that place.
I’m very happy where I work now, my boss is smart and flexible and I’m doing good work — as opposed to screwing concert goers.
Near miss!
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19points