“What’s The Biggest Red Flag You’ve Ever Seen In A Job Interview?” (36 Examples)

Nobody knows exactly what a recruiter might be hiding from them or what things about the company they might be covering up. It’s difficult to understand that in the first meeting itself, but certain words or phrases might give an indication as to the true nature of the organization.

It’s just important to know what to look out for, for example, when companies call their employees a ‘family.’ To understand why this phrase has such a negative connotation, Bored Panda reached out to Peter Duris, who’s the CEO and Co-founder of Kickresume.

He said that “when companies say ‘we are a family,’ even if the person saying it really does have good intentions and has close relationships with their colleagues, it can be a sign that this might be an unhealthy working environment.”

“Saying that your employees are your family puts too much pressure on them. It can sound as if companies are saying they should prioritize their job over other things that are important to them, like their real family at home."

"It also blurs the line between professional and personal relationships and can even come across as emotionally manipulative. If your manager asks you to go above and beyond all the time and says things like ‘we need to support each other because we’re a family here,’ you might feel guilt-tripped into overworking to the point of burnout."

"Lastly, even if your employer says you’re family to them, unfortunately, you could still end up losing your job in a restructuring somewhere down the line,” he explained.

Going in for an interview can be a nerve-wracking thing, and there’s a reason for that. People often feel intensely scrutinized or sometimes like they are being continuously tested. That’s why surveys have found that around 51% of professionals have had a bad experience during a job interview process. 

This can either be due to interviewers who are demanding, aggressive, or not prepared enough. Around 33% of folks have even found the process to be too long and tiresome. This means that recruiters do not fully understand the needs of the candidate and push on ahead despite peoples’ discomfort or lack of interest.

This list itself shows that companies need to be honest with people about their requirements and not demand or expect too much extra from them. They also need to revamp their interview process to make it easier for the folks who come for it.

This list of interview red flags might seem pretty obvious, but there are also other subtle signs that you must look out for. That’s why we asked Peter Duris what warning signs candidates should be aware of and how they can set boundaries.

He said, “if the company or the recruiter won’t tell you the salary range you can expect, especially after you have been interviewed, it’s fine to push back and tell them you need to know or to share the salary range you’d be looking for. If you are looking for a hybrid or remote job opportunity, watch out for adverts that list the job as hybrid but require 4 or even 4.5 days a week on-site.”

“You can also tell a lot about a company based on how they come across in the interview. If the hiring manager and other interviewers seem stressed and unhappy themselves, this might be a sign that the working environment at this company isn’t great.”

“Similarly, if the company seems to have a rapid turnover and has new job adverts up all the time, this might be a sign that employees are joining the company, getting stressed and burned out, and leaving rapidly. This is why it’s always good to ask questions like ‘What do you like about your job?’ and ‘Can you tell me about the culture here?’ when you have an interview,” he added.

If you’ve gone in for an interview and not come across any of these red flags, it means that the organization may probably be a good one. Everyone wants to land a great role, but it isn’t necessary that they get the same job they try out for.

If you ever feel that you’ve botched an interview it’s important not to be too hard on yourself. Rather than going into a negative spiral, it’s better to reflect on everything you did during the process and figure out what you can do better next time.

Incase you haven’t heard from the recruiter for a long time, you can also send them an email asking them for feedback on the process or thanking them for taking the time to interview you. It’s best not to get too hung up on missing out on a particular job, because your next best role might be just around the corner.

The next time you go in for an interview, all of these red flags will probably be on your mind. Although it might be a helpful guide to keep you out of toxic workplaces, it’s also important to listen to your gut and go with what feels right. No company may be a 100% right fit for you, but if you like most of what they do, you may end up loving the rest in the end.

What are some of the interview warning signs that you’ve come across? Do share your experience in the comments.