If you go on a job interview only hoping and wondering if the prospective employer wants to hire you, it’s time to rethink your approach. Here are five signs a job might not be your best match.
If you have the opportunity to interview in person or via Skype, always opt for the in-person route. It’s really challenging to observe future colleagues and the company culture without seeing it firsthand. Yes, you’ve probably done your homework on the company online, but nothing can replace the sense you get when you step inside the building.
A complete turnoff? Rudeness. Watch and listen to how employees interact, especially the boss. Do they talk down to one another? Throw each other under the bus? Do they seem to enjoy each other? Most of all, is there respect? After all, this is when they’re supposed to be on their best behavior; imagine what they’re like when potential new hires aren’t around?
You’re excited to make a good impression; the chance to show why you’re the best candidate for the job. But during the interview, as you’re proudly answering questions and sharing your relevant experiences, you notice your prospective boss is responding to messages on her phone. This isn’t something to overlook.
If you’re not getting the full attention of your prospective boss as a candidate, you better believe you won’t get it as an employee, either. In fact, oftentimes it only gets worse, such as: When you need to state a problem and enlist her guidance on a proposed solution; when you’re looking to get your performance evaluated; when you’re explaining the need to hire an additional support; or even better – when you’re stating your case for a promotion. Your boss likely won’t have the time or vested interest in evaluating your requests. Working for an excellent boss is blissful. However, the opposite is downright toxic, and in no time, you’ll begin promptly circulating your resume once again.
They Seem Unethical
Prior to interviewing, hopefully you’ve taken time to prioritize what you’re looking for most in an employer. Better yet, you’ve ranked those factors, with the top three being most prominent such as higher pay, better boss and more interesting work – whatever matters most to you. The next step is to take a look at how this matches up to your prospective employer. Sure, the team’s social media feeds may demonstrate how they want to portray themselves, but how do you view them in real life? If they take you out for lunch, watch everyone’s rapport (as well as body language): Do they make eye contact with one another? Do they seem to be friendly with each other or hostile? Also, be mindful subtle cues. If they brag about having expensed last night’s dinner at a steakhouse and sneaking it through the timesheet system, run, do not walk toward the nearest job opening.
If you’re hoping to gain clarity during the interview because you can’t quite understand what the role is and the specific responsibilities associated with the role, well – womp womp.
When a job description is pretty much non-existent, you will lack focus and direction toward your daily task. This can become especially frustrating when you’re looking to advance your career and don’t exactly know what direction it’ll take. In this case, just say no.
And now a word about dream employers – yes, this applies to your pie-in-the-sky dream employer as well. By putting them on a pedestal, you may overlook important clues that occur during the interview. That’s what the interview is there for – to do your homework and get answers to your questions. If the interview only leaves you with more questions, then it’s seriously OK to move on. Keep in mind, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll be that way for other roles within your dream employer. It could very well just be this one. Focus on each job, each boss and each job description one at a time.
They Make You Wait a Really Long Time
OK, so you arrived to the interview 15 minutes early for your 9 a.m. start time and don’t get called into the interview until 9:15 a.m. That’s fine. But, when you don’t get called into the interview until 10:15 a.m. and no one informs you of the delay, that’s not cool.
Once I was in the middle of an interview for a recruiting role and the company made me wait an entire hour between the third and fourth interviews. Finally, it got to the point where I told them I had a faux appointment – mainly because I was so annoyed, it was game over in my mind. I was not pleased; they were really inconsiderate of my time (I later found out they do this with every candidate to “test them.”) I was not amused and promptly rejected them via email and moved on.
At the end of the day, although sometimes frustrating, be grateful when employers show you their true colors, even the sour ones, during the interview process. It can save you a lot of time and energy in the long run. No one wants to start a new job only to dislike it and be looking for a way out.
Remember to keep your eyes open, interview objectively and above all, retain your power: You are indeed interviewing them.
