With the status of today’s economy, you cannot be too picky. In your efforts to filter out your job applications, sometimes the position just does not feel right. It can be in your best interest to pass on a position if any of the following red flags are present.
#1: HIRING MANAGER IS NOT EXPECTING YOU
Have you ever walked into a room and felt like a complete nuisance? If the hiring manager makes you feel that they are not expecting you, you may proceed with caution. Observe the questions of the hiring manager and determine whether the person you prepared for has glanced at your profile. Working for someone who does not respect your time and presence is not ideal.
The hiring process is an expensive endeavor, so potential employers should not be frugal with their time. It is highly likely that they frequently make hiring mistakes if they are paying less attention to you and other candidates.
#2: HIRING MANAGER’S SCHEDULING IS MESSY
A candidate can expect a few hiccups in the interview scheduling process. After all, it is not easy to coordinate multiple people’s schedules. Moreover, bosses often get pulled out for last-minute meetings.
Scheduling becomes a concern if the hiring manager keeps rescheduling your online interview or in-person interview. These actions convey that he or she thinks you can adjust your schedule endlessly to accommodate to them.
#3: HIRING MANAGER USES INTIMIDATION TACTICS
Some companies use intimidation tactics during the interview. Whether the hostile behavior reflects how people treat each other in the company or is a way to test its candidates, companies want to observe how you will act under pressure. Intimidation can go as far as forcing you to accept the job offer upfront. That happened to a friend of mine.
Hiring managers that use this technique expect the candidates to calmly approach the situation. Candidates with other options will not tolerate it.
#4: HIRING MANAGER IS NOT AWARE OF YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
No matter if you are applying to be an entry-level staff or the chief financial officer, the hiring manager should be able to explain the responsibilities of the role as well as how success will be measured. If he or she fails to do so, you will probably have a challenging time forging a clear path in the company.
You deserve to know what the job entails before you take it. If the answers of the hiring manager changes, it poses a concern.
#5: HIRING MANAGER DODGES QUESTIONS ABOUT GROWTH
Test how open the hiring manager is about growth potential and other matters. Everyone should have an opportunity to progress in the company’s ladder. If the hiring manager acts weird or gets annoyed when you ask about growth potential, you can expect that they have something to hide.
An interview is a preview of what your life could be like in a company. You can politely ask about the exciting and frustrating elements of the job to increase your awareness.
#6: HIRING MANAGERS ACT LIKE THEY ARE DOING YOU A FAVOR
Yes! Times are tough, but the hiring manager should not act like he is doing you a favor. Telling you that there are many people competing for the position and that you are lucky to have an interview is an intimidation tactic. Perhaps, this is embedded in the work culture. It is not ideal, especially if you end up dealing with it every day.
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Interviewer red flags are not difficult to spot if you know what to watch out for. Do not disregard these telltale signs during the job interview. Instead, turn your attention to finding employment or opportunity elsewhere.
