There's nothing more awkward than a job interview.
Reddit user, ToxtethOGradyUSA, wanted to know what to keep an eye out for when on the job hunt when they asked:
"What's the biggest red flag you've seen in a job interview?"
A ill-fated request can completely put you off of a job. All they have to do is ask you something you don't want to do, something immoral or unethical, and that's it. You're out.
The Worst Kind Of Intimidation
"We're legally not allowed to tell you not to take your breaks, but nobody here does it, so keep that in mind."
SanaJisu
I Listed It. That's It.
"When the first thing they ask is if you're a available outside of your listed availability"
Twitch_YungFeetGod69
Clearly I've Come Overdressed
"I was once desperate for a paycheck and set up an interview for a truck washing job. I showed up in my nice clothes only to find that not only were they interviewing 3 candidates at the same time for 1 open position, but that it was a “learning interview”, so we would be washing trucks while interviewing. I told them I had to use the bathroom, walked out a bay door, and never looked back."
Sometimes it's asking the person to elaborate on what you do outside your job. Why would they need to know that?
Unless they wanted you to come in on your off-time.
Just Making Everyone Uncomfortable
"I have a weird one, the interviewer asked me about my hobbies and I mentioned some typical ones: reading, writing, cooking, etc. He then asked about my writing and I just mentioned I've been working on a novel in my spare time."
"Hmm, in my experience, writers make poor engineers," he said."
"I didn't really know how to respond to that. He elaborated that, "Writers typically think that they will hit it big once they finish their book and don't focus on the job," I assured him that I applied for an engineering job because I wanted to do engineering and that writing was a hobby. Kind of thankful I didn't get that job."
Pay Us To Hire You
"Two things, really."
"I was interviewing in for a job to work on a new Windows based spreadsheet (a long time ago.) The group of people I interviewed with all seemed in fear. That was the first thing."
"The second thing was that on the way out, talking with HR, they said that they had paid $10,000 to the recruiter to send recruits, and if I left before one year, I would have to pay them back $10,000. It would be in my employment contract."
"You could not pay me enough to work for that place. I never want to talk to them, ever. Next."
The Strangest 'Wrong Number' Stories | George Takei’s Oh Myyy
Before we all had caller ID, wrong numbers phone calls were commonplace. But now that almost everyone screens their calls, it's wrong number texts that have ...We're All Hitting Our Deadlines
"When I switched jobs earlier this year I was specifically looking for something that was a remote/work from home situation. One interview began with an explanation that they used something similar to test proctoring software for their remote employees and that I was expected to have my webcam on for the full eight hours so they could ensure nobody “seemed distracted.”
"Come the f-ck on….we’re all professionals here. I’m not going to sit there on camera for eight hours while I work so that you can ensure you’re milking every second of productivity out of me. Only the second time in my life I’ve left an interview early."
AbortRetryImplode
And then there's these, the red flags that should signal a complete and utter departure from the interview room to a hasty exit.
Leave.
Flashing Red
"When asked if they had a radius requirement (that I needed to live within X miles in case of emergency), they laughed and said "doesn't matter, you won't be going [home] very often."
"... wow that is not even a red flag anymore, that’s a red light with sirens going off."
Let's Run The Gamut Of Classic BS
-“We’re like a family here”
-“We follow an effort based reward system”
-“We will require you to complete training which the company will partly reimburse.”
TheNatanist
"Initial salary might seem low but you’ll earn much more from bonuses"
Ok_Understanding267
You'll Be Involved In The Growth Of The Company, Meet Lots Of Different People, And Sit In A Cubicle With A Headset All Day...
"I had applied for a marketing position with a local tech company. A woman called to set up the interview, but a few things seemed a little too vague in the job description. Since I really didn't need the job I was very direct with her and asked "is this an actual marketing job or is this a sales job that's been given a marketing title?" I had run into that a couple times, but usually the job description clarifies it. Her response was, "all I can tell you is what is in the job description."
"So there's the red flag, but because the office was only a block away from where I was already working I figured I would go and entertain myself. Anyway, to make a long story short, I was right. It was a sales job, and to make matters worse it was probably the slimiest company I have ever applied for, and I once went to an Amway meeting so that should say something."
Link-to-the-Pastiche
Be selective about the job you're seeking. Don't always settle if you don't have to, as a tad more searching could lead you to a career with zero red flags.
Keep at it. It's out there.
Want to "know" more?
Sign up for the Knowable newsletter here.
Never miss another big, odd, funny, or heartbreaking moment again.
