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| Recruiters are on the lookout for red flags during a job interview. So are job seekers. STOCK4B-RF/Getty Images |
What makes alarm bells go off during a job interview?
local press asked readers to share the biggest red flags they’ve encountered and you didn’t hold back.
From vague responses to being ghosted afterward, readers highlighted the key warning signs that make them wary when pursuing a role. While many respondents already flagged pay transparency and work-life balance concerns in job postings, new problems can pop up once you’re face-to-face with the hiring team.
Here are the top red flags you told us about during job interviews:
Punctuality Matters
It might seem simple, but timeliness still counts.
As the old saying goes: if you're early, you're on time and if you're on time, you're late. But what happens if you're late? According to Liz Stout, whose interviewer arrived 15 minutes past the scheduled time, it’s “not the worst, but not a good start.” Being late without explanation sets the wrong tone right from the beginning.
Off-Putting Interview Tone
A number of readers said they were turned off by interviews that felt overly formal, robotic, or one-sided.
Rebecca Potance pointed out that when interviewers spend the entire meeting talking about the role without asking thoughtful questions, it becomes a red flag. “Only asking generic questions and doing all the talking isn’t a good sign,” she said.
Other complaints included rude or distracted interviewers, as well as those who were clearly unprepared or disorganized. In virtual interviews, some readers said they pay close attention to body language and eye movement to judge how engaged the interviewer is.
Vague or evasive responses about company culture, job expectations, or compensation were another red flag. Readers also expressed frustration with interview processes that required multiple rounds of interviews, unpaid test projects, or excessive steps.
A few also noted their discomfort with pre-recorded or asynchronous video interviews where candidates record answers for later review saying it removed the human element and made the experience feel impersonal.
Subtle Signs of Workplace Drama
Sometimes, the interviewer’s own questions can reveal more than they intend.
Several readers said that repeated inquiries about how they handle conflict or stress could be red flags in disguise. Questions about willingness to work overtime regularly might also suggest a toxic workplace or poor boundaries.
If you're hearing multiple questions around workplace friction, one reader said, it may be worth asking yourself why that’s such a focus.
Strange or Abstract Questions
Unusual interview questions may be meant to test creativity but not everyone finds them helpful.
Some readers mentioned they were put off by abstract questions like “If you were an animal, what animal would you be and why?” or brain teasers like “How many golf balls fit in an airplane?” These types of questions left some candidates feeling confused rather than evaluated.
Silence After the Interview
Not all red flags happen during the interview itself some appear after it’s over.
One of the most frustrating issues? Being ghosted. “Ghosting after an interview” ranked among the most commonly mentioned complaints, according to reader Matthew Finster. Lack of follow-up communication left many feeling disrespected and uncertain about their status.
