YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE BEING INTERVIEWED

I don’t know who started this idea, but somewhere along the line, job seekers started believing that interviews are just a company’s way of evaluating you. 

Let me set the record straight: 

You are interviewing them just as much. 

And if you have ever said yes to a job… Only to regret it 2 months later? You know exactly why this matters. 

So today, I want to walk you through 5 red flags that you need to look for during the interview process - the kind that don’t show up in the job description but shape your day-to-day after you sign that offer.

Let’s dive in:

1. How they treat you in the process.

Yes, they are the employer. But you are not a number.

If they are ghosting you for weeks, dodging your questions, or expecting you to do multiple rounds of unpaid work – that’s not professionalism. It’s a preview. 

And no, I am not talking about early-stage online applications. I am talking about once you have reached interviews and been in touch with a hiring manager. At that stage, respect is the bare minimum, since you have moved beyond systems to human interaction.

2. The chemistry (or lack thereof) with the hiring manager.

Even if you join a top company, if you report to a poor leader, it won’t matter. Is the conversation easy? Do they listen?

If it was a stress interview, that’s fine. But if your gut says something’s off, don’t ignore it. Because guess who gets penalized if things don’t go well after joining? You. 

3. Whether your questions are welcomed or dismissed.

If they get defensive when you ask about company culture or raise a concern that’s been highlighted in online reviews, note it down.

You deserve answers. And if they shut down that conversation now, imagine what working with them every day will feel like.

4. Repetition = revelation.

 Are you being asked about the same soft skill in every interview round? A client of mine was repeatedly asked about conflict resolution - a clear sign that the role would be full of it. 

Use these repetitions as clues. They are telling you what the real challenges are. Don’t miss them.

5. If they are easily offended.

Someone once told me their interviewer got upset that they sent a polite thank-you email. That’s not just a red flag, that’s a parade.

You want to work with people who are emotionally mature, not ones who carry invisible rulebooks on how to interact.

When you are in job search mode, it’s easy to just focus on landing the job. But remember: you are the one who has to live through it.

So use your head (logic), your heart (what excites you), and your hunch (that quiet voice that says “this isn’t it”).

With you in growth,

Shub Faujdar (Your Career Growth Partner)