"You just finished getting ready, the outfit you chose never fails you, and you’re about to leave the house with just enough time to get to your destination early—but not too early. On the way, you’ll think about how you’ll answer common get-to-know-you questions and pray that you make a good first impression. You’re nervous (that’s natural, right?), but you’re feeling mostly prepared. It’s not like this is the first time you’ve ever done this! You just really want it to work out this time.
Based on your prep, it’s impossible to tell whether you’re headed on a first date or a job interview. If you think about it, finding the perfect person is a lot like finding the perfect job. You want them to like you, but you have to like them too if you want it to work out long-term. The latter is something we don’t often think about when it comes to interviewing.
According to Avery Morgan, a Chief Human Resources Officer, toxic employers are just like toxic partners—same red flags, different settings. And if you don’t spot them early, you might end up in a bad relationship. When it comes to your career, you deserve to find the right fit. With that in mind, we tapped Morgan to learn more about job interview red flags. Ahead, the job interview red flags to watch out for so you can dodge bad employers and find a role worth committing to.
Avery Morgan, Chief Human Resources Officer
Avery Morgan is the Chief Human Resources Officer at EduBirdie, with deep expertise in strategic leadership, workplace culture, talent management, employee relations, corporate wellness, and productivity. Under Avery’s leadership, EduBirdie has spearheaded initiatives to address the growing issue of young people’s burnout and launched programs to help professionals boost productivity and achieve a healthier work-life balance.
1. Run if they trash their ex
“If a recruiter or hiring manager starts badmouthing former employees, take it as a warning,” says Morgan. Comments about someone’s appearance, personality, or work ethic will tell you a lot about the type of people who work at the company—and how they’ll treat you in the future. Saying things like, “As long as you have a fun personality, you’re already doing better than the last person,” is not funny. It’s disrespectful and one of the biggest interview red flags. Just like in dating, it’s a sign you might be next.
If the topic doesn’t come up, Morgan recommends asking about who held the role before you and why they left. “If you get a direct and respectful response, it’s a good sign,” she explains. “A professional company doesn’t dwell on past drama; they focus on the future,” Morgan adds.
2. Don’t fall for an imaginationship
“Building up relations in your mind before anything happens sets you up for disappointment,” says Morgan. Just like you shouldn’t get your hopes up when your date says you should totally go with them to an event in three months, don’t get too excited when a hiring manager says things like, “This is where your office will be!” before an offer is signed. Similarly, Morgan warns to beware of love-bombing (AKA when someone overwhelms you with attention and care early on so they can earn your trust). “If a hiring manager floods you with empty promises (like a fancy corner office), they might be keeping you hooked or selling a ‘dream job’ no one else wants,” she explains.
This can easily distract you from what the job really entails—and that’s why they do it. Morgan recommends keeping a list of your non-negotiables handy, comparing them with what’s promised, and confirming they are written in an offer before you sign anything. “Ask tough questions about challenges, daily life, and the next steps to get a clear view of the facts before committing,” she urges.
3. Avoid a toxic family in disguise
“Joining a company means becoming part of a workplace culture, just as dating someone means dealing with their family dynamics,” says Morgan. No pressure! Favoritism, drama, and the inability to address deep-seated problems like communication and boundaries? Huge red flags. To spot them, pay close attention to the energy of those you meet during the interview process. Do they seem engaged or exhausted? Are they respectful, or do they make subtle digs at each other? You’re going to be spending a lot of time with these people—so choose carefully.
“Joining a company means becoming part of a workplace culture, just as dating someone means dealing with their family dynamics.”
Morgan also recommends asking about turnover rates and checking the company’s reviews on Glassdoor. By doing so, you’ll gain a good understanding of how long employees stay and what past ones have to say about the company after leaving. If you want to know whether or not the culture is what hiring managers and current employees say it is, you’ll find the answers on Glassdoor. Finally, if something feels off, it’s probably because it is—so trust your instincts.
4. Watch out for a mama’s boy boss
It’s so important to respect the people you work with, but some managers act like they need permission from a higher-up for every little decision. Small workflow tweaks? Task delegation? General performance feedback? Those shouldn’t need the entire board’s involvement. (Just like your date shouldn’t need his mom’s opinion on a new apartment before he signs the lease.) “If your potential boss constantly defers to higher-ups or name-drops the CEO, they might be more of an order-taker than a leader,” says Morgan. As far as interview red flags go, this is a big one considering it can inadvertently slow down your own growth within the company.
It’s smart to ask about decision-making in interviews. Think: Who approves projects? How much autonomy do managers have? Who should you really rely on for help? Who will be the one ultimately giving you feedback? Multiple levels of approval can be normal in some workplaces, but there is a difference between that and wanting to run every single little thing by someone else before moving forward. With that said, “If it all has to go through ‘mama,’ decide if you’re OK with that dynamic,” says Morgan.
5. Avoid bad communication
If you haven’t heard back from the company after your interview or the hiring process is taking so long that you’re basically getting breadcrumbed, there are a few things you can do. First, send a follow-up email and say something like, “I enjoyed our conversation and wanted to check in on the hiring process,” Morgan recommends. If they get back to you and don’t have many updates, this could mean that they aren’t in a rush to commit to a candidate. If you’re not in a hurry to switch jobs, this isn’t that big of a deal, but they should still be communicative. Either way, don’t put all of your eggs in one basket.
“If you don’t hear back after a week, let it go,” Morgan recommends. Unfortunately, getting ghosted is far too normal—whether you’re dating or job hunting. But rejection is inevitable, and you shouldn’t take it personally. “If a company can’t even manage a simple response, it’s not a place you’d want to work anyway,” encourages Morgan. The right role will come along, just like the right person will. Just like in dating, it all comes down to respect and communication from the start.
Hailey Bouche, Associate Editor
As an Associate Editor for The Everygirl, Hailey Bouche oversees, writes, and edits content across various categories on the site. From the pitching stage through publishing, she works alongside the team to ensure that the content that our readers see every day is inspiring, relatable, and timely.