15 Red Flags That You’re Interviewing at a Poorly Run Company

It can be exciting to get an interview for a new job. You might start to dream of landing a better-paying job that will help you lower your financial stress.

But before you become swept up in that possibility, keep your eyes open for signs that the company might not be a good fit.

Watch for the following red flags that might suggest you are interviewing with a poorly run company.

Pay attention to the interview process and make sure you ask questions about what will be required for the job. This could be a good way to understand the financial fitness of the company as well. 

It might be a red flag if the company gives you vague responses about what you’ll actually be doing instead of offering more concrete guidelines.

Some companies might not include salary guidelines or a list of benefits in their job description. So, it’s important to ask questions about compensation and benefits during the interview.

If they continue to be cagey and don’t answer your questions directly — especially about salary — it might indicate the company doesn’t have its act together.

Initially, you might have thought you got lucky by snagging an interview with this company. However, keep looking at the company’s job search page even after you are invited to interview.

It can be a bad sign if the company keeps adding new job postings, especially for positions similar to the role you are seeking.

Ask questions during the interview process about what the company expects a typical day to look like, including which days you’ll be working.

Hours and days can vary from company to company, so you want to know if you will be working weekends or extended hours. Be wary of a company that won’t give you specifics.

It’s typical for job seekers to go through human resources instead of applying directly to the manager they’ll be working with. However, you should still be allowed to talk to that manager during the interview process.

It is not a good sign if you cannot get an idea of what a potential manager does and what it would be like to work for them.

Once you have received an invitation to interview, there might be a little back-and-forth or a delay along the way. 

However, repeated signs of disorganization throughout the process can indicate that the company is a mess internally. If you experience disorganization at this level, you can expect more of it when you start working.

Logistics and other issues can come up between the time your resume is accepted and when you are offered the job.

Be wary, though, if weeks go by and you’re still waiting to set up a second interview. Or the company keeps saying it needs to put some more pieces in place before moving forward.

The longer it takes, the more it might indicate this is not the best company to work for.

Perhaps you have specific talents and want to get a certain position in a company. If so, it can be frustrating to get to the interview and find out the company wants to consider you for a different role.

Such a “bait-and-switch” might suggest that more sleight of hand is in store if you take a job with the company.

In-person interviews can be a good way for the company to show itself off to prospective employees with a nice lobby or clean office space.

A messy office with papers and trash thrown around or a working space that hasn’t been maintained properly can be a sign that the company is also a figurative mess.

Feel free to judge a book by its cover in this case, especially if you pick up on other bad signs.

It’s important to talk about your experience in previous positions. Perhaps you have projects you’re proud of or goals that you were able to achieve on your own or as a member of a successful team.

But be careful not to divulge too much information. Some companies might call you in under the guise of an interview simply to get more detailed information about how much your current company pays you, what its processes are, or other information about a competitor.

It can be typical for an employer to put you through a practice test to gauge your knowledge.

But remember that there is a line between being asked to take a practical test and being asked to work for free. If you feel like you’re being taken advantage of, consider that a major red flag.

When you’re applying for a job, it’s not just about that particular position, but also positions you can move to later.

Ask about the promotional track. You also may want to ask where the current position holder is moving to if that person is staying within the company.

If there’s no vision for what’s next for the position, the role might not be right for you.

Ask about how the company sees your role in its future. Do your managers have specific goals they want you to meet in the position, or specific things they want you to achieve?

If they cannot pinpoint such specific goals, consider it a red flag.

An interviewer should be prompt for the appointment and not make you wait long to start the interview. They should also be respectful of the work you’ve done and your education.

In short, they should be respectful of you and your time during the entire process.

If interviewers don’t respect you as a potential employee, consider it a red flag that they also won’t respect you when you’re an actual employee.

It’s obviously a good sign to get an offer from a company after you’ve gone through the interview process.

But the company should also understand that you need to give notice to your current employer and have some time to wind down your responsibilities before moving on.

Putting pressure on you to quit your current job and move over to them now may be a red flag that they are desperate for your help, or just need a warm body to fill a role.

Changing jobs can be a good option if you’re looking for something new or want to make more money so you get ahead financially.

However, when you interview, keep an eye out for red flags that indicate the company is poorly run. It’s important to find a position with a stable company that can help you advance your career.