💥 6 Red Flags to Look Out for in an Interview

You’ve researched the company, the leadership, and their recent news coverage.

You’ve prepped the questions you want to ask about team culture and project priorities.

You’ve adjusted your Zoom background and triple-checked your wifi connection.

You’re ready to rock your job interview and feel like nothing can stand in your way.

Until… you’re in the conversation and something just doesn’t feel right. Maybe it’s an off-color comment, or maybe you’re realizing the gig isn’t what you thought it was, but something’s telling you that things are off.

You’re not crazy or imagining things. You’re likely picking up on some interview red flags we all should have been warned about a lot sooner:

🚩 Your interviewer’s questions are biased, disrespectful, or inappropriate (anything around age, marital status, ability status, or gender identity is super off-limits). 

🚩 The interview day is chaotic or unorganized on the company’s side (interviewers never show up or are unprepared).

🚩 The job details change during the interview (you thought you’d be designing training sessions for engineers, but it turns out you’ll be fielding customer experience tickets).

🚩 You get mixed messages from the recruiters or hiring managers (they start off super friendly, but then act like you’re a dime a dozen).

🚩 You only meet one person throughout the entire interview process (extra red flag if they’re not even on your future team).

🚩 Your interviewers just don’t seem excited to hire or work with you. (Enough said.)

Phew. If you’ve experienced any of the above red flags, I’m sorry. They’re unfortunately super common. But awareness is your power, and if you notice any of these warnings in future interviews, you have the opportunity to either address them with the hiring team, share your experience on Glassdoor (respectfully) for others’ benefit, or simply move on knowing you probably dodged a bullet.

However, there are also some “green flags” out there that shouldn’t go unnoticed, either. The following can be considered positive signs that a company or team would be a worthwhile part of your career journey:

✅ Your interviewers are prepared for the unique questions you ask, and respond with thoughtful answers.

✅ You’re encouraged to take your time responding to their questions.

✅ The conversation is empowering and encouraging, not biased or uncomfortable.

✅ Your interviewers seem genuinely enthusiastic,

✅ Your most important questions are answered or there is a commitment to follow up if they can’t be answered in the moment.

✅ You’re clear on the next steps in the application process, and you’re excited about them.

Have you experienced any of these interview red flags? What about the green flags? What other “flags” would you add to these lists?

KGYGT (keep going, you got this),

Janel

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