'How do you feel about overtime?': 20+ Job interview signs that hint at a bad work environment

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Dec 17, 2024 3:00 PM EST

Hiring managers don't always say exactly what they mean, but if you can read between the lines, you might save yourself the headache of working somewhere awful. 

When you go to a job interview, you're probably thinking about saying the right things and expressing the right demeanor to impress your interviewer. It goes both ways, though: that interviewer should be trying to impress you, too. They should be able to explain to you why you should work at their company instead of another one. So it's surprising that some hiring managers act offended if you ask about things like pay, vacation time, benefits, and the company culture. They might even try to disguise the bad parts of the company… but if you know the right phrases and signs to look for, you can steer clear of toxic work environments. 

These wise job seekers shared some pearls of wisdom from their own time in the job-interviewing trenches. For one thing, if the company starts bragging that they're like a family, you can turn and run! Or if they ask how you feel about always completing your work no matter what, you can expect some unpaid overtime. 

After that, read about an ultra-petty apartment tenant who's getting back at their irritating landlady, sharing that "I'm making my landlady wait 29 minutes." 

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    Cheezburger Image 10443015680
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    What are subtle red flags at a job interview that say "working here would s...k"?
    via u/Real_Boster
  • 03
    Zealousideal_... Telling you, "we're like family, here". Nah... That means the place S ks. They're going to underpay you and expect you to work super hard because it's all for the good of your new, "family". Nah...pass.
    via u/Zealousideal_Key_714
  • 04
    gobstopper84 Using phrases like fast- paced
    via u/gobstopper84
  • 05
    SnoopyisCute high turnover rates
    via u/SnoopyisCute
  • 06
    aardwolf11 Very little eye contact as you pass by people in the hallways
    via u/aardwolf11
  • 07
    itchyb ytw... "we take breaks when it's not busy" - meaning no breaks, it's always busy
    via u/itchyb****ytwitchy
  • 08
    Educational_... Them casually telling you your predecessors only lasted a few months.
    via u/Educational_Bag_3286
  • 09
    No_Pomegran... "We're not a 9 to 5 job, we expect you to be here from 7 to 8 at least" Yeah that's a no from me. We're in Germany, there are labour laws.
    via u/No_Pomegranate1167
  • 10
    Catwinky Hired on the spot - especially if an entry level, service industry, elder care or healthcare position. You're not that good. They're just desperate - usually because people walk out or they have high turnover.
    via u/Catwinky
  • 11
    Devi_Moonbe... I had an interview at 7 pm at a tech startup. Everyone in the office, and I mean it looked like everyone, was still there working. Interviewer said the company had good work/life balance and people usually got out by 8.
    via u/Devi_Moonbeam
  • 12
    toooooold4this When it's family-owned and the husband runs the operation while the wife is the bookkeeper/accountant/final nce officer. They usually nitpick expenses like how many documents get printed or how much bottled water people drink and then show
    via u/toooooold4this
  • 13
    up to work in their new luxury car or at the end of the year, they tell everyone. there will not be raises this year due to economic conditions but then invite the staff to their mansion for the Christmas party.
    via u/toooooold4this
  • 14
    Robin Good94 Unclear or vague scope of work information. Prominent insinuation of a "family" environment. Hesitation or lack of clarity in the disclosure of why the position is even open.
    via u/RobinGood94
  • 15
    When I apply I always ask what happened to the previous person in this role. Some information can't be disclosed, but a general overview should be available to discuss.
    via u/RobinGood94
  • 16
    Guitoudou "We're a small company, everyone is doing a bit of everything" -> absolutely no structure, you'll be what they need at that instant and it will change constantly.
    via u/Guitoudou
  • 17
    I've had someone say to me recently "Are you someone who would go out of their way for the company? How do you feel about OT?"
    via u/beebeebalm
  • 18
    Human_Paint... There are quite a few, many of which I know from experience, but the most notable that come to mind: BEING LATE/NOT SHOWING UP: If your interviewer(s) are late or one or more of them do not show up at all, it shows disorganization, chaos, and potentially lack of respect for you as a candidate.
    via u/Human_Paint5451
  • 19
    SUPER QUICK PROCESS: Going from application to signing an offer in a matter of days. While this isn't always bad, it often is an indication of an urgent hiring need due to restructuring and/or high turnover.
    via u/Human_Paint5451
  • 20
    REDUNDANT INTERVIEWS: 4/5+ interviews for a non- executive position? Smells like micromanagement and distrust to me. Of course, this can be standard for some industries like medical/pharmaceutical, but for a basic entry-level admin or creative position? Nope!
    via u/Human_Paint5451
  • 21
    PERSONALITY CLASHING: Remember that an interview goes both ways. Not only are they interviewing you to see if you're a good candidate, you're also interviewing them to see if you would enjoy working there. If there is a mismatch in values, awkward tension/questions, etcetera, these will only be exacerbated once you begin.
    via u/Human_Paint5451
  • 22
    AMBIGUITY: If a job description and/or interviewer can't give you a basic day-to-day overview, whether it be schedule- related or duties-related, just run. This is a sign of disorganization and that they will just take advantage of you and throw anything and everything your way and possibly make you work overtime.
    via u/Human_Paint5451
  • 23
    Of course I'm sure I'm missing some but these are the biggest I can think of...
    via u/Human_Paint5451
  • 24
    Macchill99 I have never experienced subtle red flags in a job interview most of them are very blatant and bold and are intended to be by the management team. Set the expectation that the culture is right out of the gate then remind people they "agreed to work here" if they ever complain.
    via u/Macchill99
  • 25
    But yeah not so subtle red flags "We don't pay overtime" (literally illegal where I'm from) "Workers are expected to be 15 minutes early and leave 15 minutes late without pay to ensure proper crossover" (again illegal)
    via u/Macchill99
  • 26
    veryhairyeyes Cheap toilet paper in the toilet
    via u/veryhairyeyes
  • 27
    || we are a family here" (translation expect to be asked to do much more than you are paid for) "Do you have any experience in x" (mofucker it's an entry level position! Literally manual labor! A monkey could do it but PETA would sue you so you got me instead)
    via u/veryhairyeyes
  • 28
    NBA-014 About 30 years ago, I interviewed for an IT job at a company in South Carolina. My "hint" was a lady who talked with me over lunch - she laughed and said I should run away ASAP. - We were both natives of NY State and she said the company culture was like being on a different planet.
    via u/NBA-014
  • 29
    I was convinced when the company administered a "Family Values" survey. Honestly - they gave me a family values test.
    via u/NBA-014
  • 30
    THEbaddesto... "You'll get plenty of opportunities for over time." At first you'd think that means that working overtime is available to you if choose to volunteer for it to make some extra money.
    via u/THEbaddestOFtheA****
  • 31
    What it really meant was overtime is mandatory everyday including working on your day off and you can't refuse it or you'll lose your job.
    via u/THEbaddestOFtheA****
  • 32
    Fit_Ant_4879 "Have you ever failed to give two weeks notice?". Translation- "People keep walking out".
    via u/Fit_Ant_4879
  • 33
    ELHorton You do a panel interview but no one on the panel will be a coworker/peer. After the fact, when you start your job, you find out one of the people that interviewed you will be your boss but they never mentioned that during the interview panel. It's kind of too late by then but hey,
    via u/ELHorton
  • 34
    fyi. They probably did that because they have a certain reputation around the office and they're hoping that omitting the info can only be beneficial for them even though you aren't even in the office yet and there's no way for you to know anything about it.
    via u/ELHorton
  • 35
    United-Donke... 4 to 5 interviews and keeping that person waiting. for weeks to find out if you got the job. *** That place is not worth the wait. micro-managers will be up your a daily.** *** Be cautious taking the job.
    via u/United-Donkey3478
  • 36
    Zestyclose_Tr... When they ask if you have any questions, one I like to ask is "why is this position vacant? Is it from internal growth or are you replacing staff who have left". Says a lot without saying much. You can also ask about turnover.
    via u/Zestyclose_Treat4098
  • 37
    overthinking_7 "We don't have drama or micromanage here"...just like a nice guy/girl syndrome, when they gottal announce it, you know what they're really projecting.
    via u/overthinking_7
  • 38
    False_Damag... I really hope your a self learner. Which basically means our training is terrible and if you can't learn new things immediately then your gonna fail. My first IT job, the manager said that and I immediately learned that the warehouse manager would train me in his free time. I eventually
    via u/False_Damage4209
  • 39
    said f all yall and left. Best decision in 2023. Life is too short to put up with toxic workplaces.
    via u/False_Damage4209
  • 40
    dawfun "We are in the middle of a transformational phase." Literally means they don't know what they're doing, and they don't have any clear leadership direction.
    via u/dawfun
  • 41
    Worst outcome: old guard won't let go of what needs to change, and people leading the transformation are frauds and charlatans on a power trip LARPing as experts.
    via u/dawfun
  • 42
    AnAnonymou... "We work hard and play hard." Translation: 12+ hour days and cold Domino's pizza in the break room in fridays.
    via u/AnAnonymousParty

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