MRT Insights

You go into the interview excited, prepared, and hopeful that the next time you walk through the doors you will be a hired employee. But then, something changes. You leave the interview feeling underwhelmed, confused, and wondering if you should listen to that feeling in your stomach.

Interviews are just as much important to gain information for the interviewee as it is for the interviewer.

RED FLAGS TO LOOK FOR

Red flags in the hiring process for interviewees are real. We are here to help highlight some red flags that you should not overlook. When going into an interview, you need to be adequately prepared, this includes prepping yourself to notice red flags. Some of these red flags include:

• Valid questions are getting vague answers.
• The hiring authority does not understand the scope of your role.
• Company culture or atmosphere is off-putting.
• Average employee tenure is very short.
• The hiring authority is not prepared.
• The hiring process is disorganized.

Often, an interviewee will properly prepare for an interview, but leave feeling an overwhelming, disappointed feeling. This is a result of having an interview filled with red flags, whether they were from the interviewer themselves or because the job doesn’t seem how it was advertised. There are red flags to look for within a company that can be a tell-all for what your experience will be like when hired. We will go into detail on a few of these red flags that we see across all jobs, all levels of experience, all industries, and all onboarding processes.

RED FLAGS EXPLAINED

1. Your valid questions are getting vague answers. Having an interviewee get time to ask questions at the end of an interview is standard practice. In previous blogs and vlogs, we have discussed how important this is and what types of questions to ask the interviewer, so you seem prepared and interested. This also can be a great way to gain more insight into the company. If an interviewee finds themselves asking basic questions, such as:

• “What are the main responsibilities that will be asked of me?”

• “How will I be evaluated?”

• “Who do I directly report to/or who do I directly work with?

If these questions are not getting a clear answer, this is a red flag. Your interviewer should be prepared with this knowledge. Vague answers can show many potential signs; an unorganized team, the open position has not been established and set with clear goals and guidelines, or the interviewer is not prepared.

2. Tenure is very short. This can be a tricky fact to find, but it can foreshadow the company culture you could potentially be joining. LinkedIn offers data on companies for different membership subscriptions- average median employee tenure being one. Often, you can see how long the average tenure is for a company by checking their LinkedIn page or their open job listings on LinkedIn. Another option is to talk to previous employees about their experiences at the company. Glassdoor is also a great place to find information on company culture, salary, and tenure.

3. The hiring process is disorganized. A candidate has put in the time to update their resume and cover letter then apply and they wait weeks to hear back. This is a sign. A company that may not value your time can reveal itself at the start of the interview process. If you find yourself having to reschedule interviews, reach out to get a response back, speak to many different people to get an interview, or resubmit files that they may have misplaced, you could be dealing with a potentially disorganized firm. This disorganization could carry into every facet of the business.

SPEAK WITH SOMEONE YOU TRUST

We believe a candidate’s time is just as valuable as the company they are hiring for. We believe that you should always listen to that gut feeling after leaving a job interview. While we do believe the actions listed above in an interview are red flags, be sure you are not missing any facts or passing judgment before making a career choice. We advise candidates speak with family and friends before making a decision on their career. If you’d like more advice on how to win your next interview, watch our vlog here where we take a deep dive into the key strategies to having a successful interview.

MRT is also in the business of consulting and we love to help wherever we can. If you ever have any questions about your professional career, do not hesitate to reach out to one of our team members here.