On a first date, both parties wear their game faces. It’s hard to tell if a year later will find them bored, decked in sweatpants, slouched on the couch, ordering pizza and watching NCIS…again. The same goes for the interview process. Both interviewer and candidate are at their best. How can you tell if this ‘first date’ will evolve into a satisfying job, or be a boring or worse – straight up BAD – stopover on your career path?
Just like in dating, there are a few red flags you can spot. None are as obvious as someone who trots out an Instagram of their ex mid-date, but you can train yourself to see warning signs using these tips.
Stop, Look, and Listen
Get to your interview early (always a good idea – not just to spy on the corporate culture). While you’re waiting, look around. Is the office clean and organized? Is the receptionist welcoming? Is the phone ringing? A friendly receptionist is a gateway – if they’re not happy, chances are other folks aren’t either. Of course, everyone has a bad day now and again, but observe carefully. Receptionists have the power – they KNOW they’re the first face a candidate sees – and if they don’t care to be friendly to a candidate, something’s fishy.
If the phone’s not ringing, maybe business is slow. Note the time; if it’s before or after business hours, or during lunch, it might be down time. But if it’s business time, and you hear crickets – maybe the company’s not thriving. Is the phone ringing off the hook, harrying the receptionist? Maybe this company is in over its head – too much work, not enough workers. It could be a sign of high turnover, which should give you pause.
Carefully observe employees every chance you get (stealthily, of course). Are they smiling? Do you hear raised voices? How are they dressed? Does it seem “cliquey”? A clique may welcome you in, but might not – if this bothers you, be on the lookout.
Many people fail to observe one of the biggest warning signs of a bad workplace – the office equipment. If en route to the hiring manager’s office, you see broken equipment, or piles of what appear to be out-of-service chairs, laptops, or monitors, address it when your interviewer asks if you have questions.
“It looks like you’ve got a lot of computers piled up out there – are you upgrading your laptops?” Watch how your interviewer reacts – if they’re caught off guard, or their voice shoots up, it may be a warning sign. Broken equipment is like a first date with baggage they refuse to unpack. Do you really want to work for a company that doesn’t fix what’s broken?
Not on the First Date
Here’s a question to save for a second or third interview. Ask if it would be possible to meet with a potential future team member, or a manager. If the hiring manager has already arranged to have you meet with other employees, this is a sign of a good company (and that you’re doing well in interviews)! If they balk, they may be afraid for you to learn something they’d rather you didn’t know. A great resource for confidential company reviews is Glassdoor.com <http://www.glassdoor.com/index.htm>.
As with all reviews, make sure you read several – you don’t want to base your opinion of the whole company on the review equivalent of the ONE guy who got a bad meatball sandwich on Yelp. <http://www.funnysigns.net/try-the-worst-meatball-sandwich/>
If You See Something, Say Something
A big pet peeve of hiring managers is candidates who don’t ask questions. If there’s something about the workplace that concerns you, ask about it! There may be a completely legitimate answer that will allay your fears. “I notice that there are a lot of empty desks out there – do you have very high turnover?” It could be that you’re observing the sales area – and they’re all out celebrating a big month with an awards luncheon! “Your receptionist certainly seems very busy – does this mean that business is good?” Perhaps a press release announcing a big win for the company just hit the wires, and customers want more information.
Be observant – pay attention to little details. Trust your instincts and ask questions. Don’t let this job be a place to kill time until your next one!