What you can learn from a job interview.
Job interview horror stories go both ways. Sometimes, you totally flub a tough job interview and walk out feeling stupid. Sometimes, however, the person interviewing you is the one who screws up. What do you do then?
Remember that the job interview is not just about whether you’re a good fit for the company. It’s also your chance to see if the company fits you. Here are five job interview danger signs you need to watch out for.
Job interview danger sign #1: The interviewer is late.
You’re sitting in the reception area and the clock is ticking. 9:05. 9:15. 9:20. Where’s the person who’s interviewing you? You’re starting to get a bad feeling about this.
If your interviewer shows up late and apologizes, we suggest forgiving them. If he shows up 30 minutes late and doesn’t say a word, that could be a bad sign. You don’t want to work for a boss who doesn’t treat employees with respect.
Job interview danger sign #2: The interviewer is rude.
He looks at his phone while you’re talking. He cuts you off in the middle of an answer. He starts complaining about the lazy, worthless people who work for him. Now, you know exactly what kind of boss this guy would be. Get out of there as soon as you can.
Job interview danger sign #3: The job description is fuzzy.
“What are the responsibilities for this hourly job?” you ask.
The interviewer looks up at the ceiling. “Um,” he says. “We haven’t really figured that out yet. Probably some filing, maybe some front-desk work, a little carpentry.”
This is not good. If you take a job without knowing what you’ll be doing, chances are good you’ll end up doing the tasks no one wants to do, like cleaning the bathrooms. There can be exceptions – if the company’s creating a new position and you’re a self-motivated person, you may be able to turn it into a good job.
Job interview danger sign #4: The job sounds too good to be true.
$25 an hour for data entry work you can do from home? Huge commissions for an entry-level sales position? Sounds so, so tempting – but come on, you know there’s a catch. If the interviewer starts promising you amazing perks and benefits for an entry-level job, you know there’s something he’s not telling you. Walk away from this job.
Job interview danger sign #5: The other employees are angry.
As you walk out the door after your job interview, another employee pushes his way past you. “I quit!” he yells, as he drops his apron on the ground and spits on it. “I can’t stand another minute of working in this bleeping place.”
Time to continue your job search.
