10 Red Flags to Watch Out for in a Job Interview (2024)

FAQs

What is the biggest red flag to hear when being interviewed? ›

Interviews are a two-way street, and you should be prepared to ask your own set of insightful questions during each interview. However, if the interviewer seems agitated, annoyed, or defensive about your questions, that's a red flag. That could indicate that they don't value your thoughts, interests, or concerns.

Employers that do more than 5 rounds usually don't know what they want — and that's a big red flag. Eddiana Rosen, a human resources specialist with recruiting experience who coaches job seekers, said that if a company doesn't know who it wants to hire after five rounds of interviews, it has “a broken system.”

Business Insider asked two color experts to share which shades are best to wear to a job interview. Wearing blue or taupe can give off the impression that you're trustworthy and dependable. The experts said wearing red can make you feel confident if you need some extra encouragement.

How Do You Know If You Are a Top Candidate? Clear interest from the interviewer, positive body language, and in-depth discussions about the role and company indicate that you are being considered a top candidate.

At the end of most job interviews, the interviewer will say, “Feel free to email me if you have any more questions.” It's easy to brush off this statement as a mere formality, but in reality, it provides an opportunity to make a lasting impression on your potential employer.

We know: 30 minutes can really fly when you're trying to present a broad picture of yourself to a prospective employer. But don't worry — every candidate will struggle with the same time constraints as you.

Phrases such as “I'm not sure if your skills match our needs” or “We were looking for someone with more experience” are clear verbal indications that the interviewer might be leaning towards not making an offer.

What are red flags when hiring? ›

Failing to engage in small talk or displaying awkward body language. Some recruitment experts suggest that awkward body language and an inability to engage in small talk should be viewed as red flags because they show that a candidate is uncomfortable or not passionate about the job.

Requiring more than three rounds of interviews could indicate that the company is indecisive or disorganized, and because a company's hiring process reflects its culture, it may not be a good sign for how they'll run other aspects of their business, Monster career expert Vicki Salemi tells CNBC Make It.

Remember that as a job-seeker, you should be interviewing the company just as they're interviewing you. Crystal Brown-Tatum, an HR director in Dallas, says that it's a big red flag if the recruiter speeds through an initial interview and offers you a role without speaking to more people on the team.