...and Six Red Flags That Say Perhaps That Job Isn't
For You
We all
know that going on a job interview is cause for varying degrees of anxiety. We're uncomfortable, very concerned about
making a good impression both personally and with our resume and work
history. Saying the wrong
thing…misspeaking…is upper in our mind.
All of
this discomfort is part of the process.
But, there are those who go beyond the bounds of mere jittery
nerves. The following comments were
actually said during the course of a job interview.
Q:
Why did you leave your last job?
A:
"I have a problem with authority."
Q:
Why should we hire you?
A:
"I would be a great asset to the events team because I party all
the time."
Q:
Do you have any questions?
A:
"Cross dressing isn't a problem, is it?"
Q:
Why are you leaving your current job?
A:
"I was fired from my last job because they were forcing me to
attend anger management classes."
Q:
Why do you want to work for us?
A:
"My old boss didn't like me, so one day I just left and never came
back. And here I am!"
Q:
What are your weaknesses? [related to job skills]
A:
"I get angry easily and I went to jail for domestic violence. But I won't get mad at you."
Q:
When have you demonstrated leadership skills?
A:
"Well my best example would be in the world of online video
gaming. I pretty much run the show. It takes a lot to do that."
Q:
Is there anything else I should know about you?
A:
"You should probably know I mud wrestle on the weekends."
Q:
When can you start?
A:
"I need to check with my mom on that one."
Q:
Have you submitted your two weeks' notice to your current employer?
A:
"What is two weeks' notice?
I've never quit a job before.
I've always been fired."
The
following are random responses and comments made by job seekers at interviews.
"If
I get an offer, how long do I have before I have to take the drug test?"
"When
you do background checks on candidates, do things like public drunkenness
arrests come up?"
"May
I have a cup of coffee? I think I may
still be a little drunk from last night."
And
finally…
[During
a telephone call to schedule the interview]
"Can we meet next month? I
am currently incarcerated."
While we
put a lot of effort into that all important job hunt, we should not be so
anxious to land a job…any job…that we
ignore those red flags trying to tell us this might not be the best place to
work.
While
those red flags might be flying during your interview, you could be so busy
talking about how well you work with your team or bragging about your killer
sales record that you don't see them flapping in the wind trying to get your
attention. Or you pretend you don't see them. You pretend you don't hear the
interviewer complain about a colleague or working long hours. Or you decide
it's no big deal that she interrupted your interview twice to take a call.
If
getting the job means a large pay increase, or if you've been looking for a job
for quite a while with no luck, you're more likely to ignore the signs. But if
you don't want to be job hunting again in a few months, you need to pay
attention to those red flags.
The good
news is that there are usually clues during the interview process that you could
be heading for trouble. Spot any of these signs, and you may want to turn down that
job offer you've been seeking.
Your
interviewer is late. Being
a few minutes late for an interview is no big deal. However, if someone is 15
or 20 minutes late, that deserves some added attention on your part especially if
your interviewer doesn't appear to care. Being on time is a sign of respect for
both the interviewer and the interviewee.
And rescheduling
your interview a few times doesn't bode well, either. Your interviewer might be
overworked or disorganized, and you really don't want to work in that type of situation
and atmosphere.
Your
interviewer hasn't reviewed your résumé. If the hiring manager isn't familiar with your
background, you have to wonder why you're being interviewed at all. If the
person who is doing the hiring hasn't taken the time to read your résumé then
that person isn't doing their job.
Ideally,
the hiring manager and your potential boss will have called you in because
they've carefully read and discussed your résumé and read your online profiles.
If they haven't done this, they're not invested enough in bringing in the right
person, or they're just desperate to hire someone…anyone.
There's
confusion about the position. Sometimes
you get called in for an interview through a referral or because you have a great
résumé, and the manager is trying to figure out where you fit. You may wind up
getting hired, but the job you get might not be best suited to you.
Taking a
job because you like the company or the manager isn't enough. Try to pin down
specifics about what you will do and how you will be evaluated. Can't get any
information? Perhaps it's best to walk away.
Your
interviewer checks email. It's
just too rude. Your interviewer should be paying attention to the interview,
not checking his email. And if someone is that uninterested in what you are
saying, there's a good chance that you won't be hired anyway.
The
department has a lot of turnover. During
your interview, ask why the previous employee in that position resigned, as
well as how long that employee had been in that specific job and how long with
the company. When you meet other team members, ask them about their career
paths.
If many
team members are recent hires, be sure there is a sound business reason for the
hiring spree, such as a new product or client or a round of funding. Otherwise,
too much employee turnover hints at a toxic boss, culture, or work atmosphere.
You
hear negative comments about the job situation you're interested in or read
them online. If
your interviewer criticizes the person you will be replacing, other team
members, a boss or even the company in general, don't disregard it as
unimportant. It isn't professional, and it might mean you will be working for
someone who doesn't respect other people or is impossible to please.
Pay
attention to negative comments in online reviews of the company as well. A few
negative reviews are one thing—there are always a few disgruntled employees.
But if there are many such comments, consider yourself warned. Look for
patterns in the comments, too. If the same negative words or phrases pop up in
many reviews, such as "political," "lacking vision" or
"endless hours," the problem might be the general atmosphere or the
leadership, rather than a single manager.
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