Gearing up for a Job Interview? Watch Out for These Subtle Red Flags

Finding a job is rigorous and may be stressful for some, especially when you think about the nerve-racking interviews that follow an application.

Most of us have been there: the sweaty palms, awkward eye-to-eye contact with the interviewer, and the stuttering — having been asked about our strengths and weaknesses would feel like our life depends on how we answer. But understand that this is a learning process for both parties.

A job interview is a learning process for the interviewer and interviewee

Sometimes, however, there may be times when you can almost immediately know that this isn’t the right work for you. Money may be one of the deciding factors on your mind right now but if you think about the long-term benefits, you’ll definitely want to be with a company you can stay with and grow in five years or so. Here are the red flags to look out for during job interviews:

On Technology

It may be far-fetched but you can say a lot about a company that uses old tech. For example, you have been asked to sign a couple of papers or review documents but you must use Internet Explorer to open the files and to send these back.

Obviously, they are not keen on keeping up with the times, which basically reflects their attitude toward advancement, AllyO co-founder Sahil Sahni explained. Furthermore, this could also say something about how they invest in modern tech.

Check if a company still relies on old technology

How can this affect you when you’re hired? This can be extra work on your part when you start at this office. That may mean filling out formal requests and waiting days for what you are asking. There’s a reason technology is widely used nowadays, and it is to save money, time, and energy that could be used on other tasks.

Getting a Response

Excruciating is an understatement to describe what you feel the moment between finishing your interview and getting an answer – but, it is all the more frustrating if the company takes too long to answer.

Sometimes, it doesn’t matter if you get the job or not, but it’s about learning it early. One of the signs that you’re dealing with a no-no brand is a slow response.

If the company is disorganized, things will likely be the same when you’re an employee

Sahil explained that 85 percent of the applicants don’t hear back from the employer, which tells about how they handle things internally. If things seem disorganized, then you now have an idea of how their daily grind goes. As an applicant, it is best that you take note of how long the process goes: from completing the task to getting feedback from them.

Organization

What’s ideal is that HR will lay out how long the hiring process will go. They should explain what the next steps will be for you if in case you’ve passed the first round of interviews and the corresponding time needed for each step.

Sahil suggested seeing a soon-to-be coworker’s calendar if you have the chance to spot one during your interview – that way, you’ll know how things go when you’re already an employee.