5 Red Flags during an Interview

Recruitment professionals know how important hiring the right person is- for productivity, for company morale, and for advancing an organization’s mission. Hiring incorrectly costs companies time, money, and valuable resources. Hiring the wrong person also decreases current employees’ trust that management has a strong grasp on what they are doing. It is imperative that the hiring process is an actual process, and less of a leap of faith. That process begins with identifying some very obvious and blatant red flags.

Here are the 5 red flags to look out for when interviewing:

1. Not Responsive: The candidate does not respond to calls, texts, or emails in a timely manner, or at all to confirm interview times or other questions that are asked. If an applicant communicates poorly prior to getting the job, imagine what will happen when they are hired.
2. Not Prepared for the Interview: The candidate should be very knowledgeable about the company and the position they are applying for. Every company has a website and other social media platforms that can easily be accessed for thorough research. A potential employee who just shows up hoping for the best is a scary foreshadowing of how they will approach their work.
3. Answers are too rehearsed: If answers sound too rehearsed, count on one of these two things. (1) They have been on a plethora of interviews without any luck. (2) They aren’t really listening to the current questions, nor are they applying their experience what they are currently applying for. The conversation should be authentic and genuine. Anything less than that should be viewed as problematic.
4. Previous employers or managers are bashed: Interviews should be positive; applicants should see the positivity in all situations. Negativity sucks the energy out of any space and office. Avoid baggage as best as possible. If an interviewee can’t be positive during the interview phase, odds are that pessimism will rear its ugly head the first moment they face adversity if they are hired. Nobody wants to be around drama and bad moods. This is a big morale killer.
5. Job jumping: This isn’t the 1950’s where people kept the same job for 30 years. It’s normal for people to change jobs these days, and that’s okay. It is concerning if the applicant is switching jobs every 1-2 years. There should always be a goal of hiring somebody for the long term. Failing to show some stability and longevity in a previous position and throughout a resume should send alarm bells to the interviewer. This red flag can be weeded out pre-interview, however, if a candidate does make it through, question them hard on the circumstance of each job change.