‘Flexible hours means your time is their time’: 20+ Seasoned employees share interview ‘red flags’ that warn them to stay away from certain companies

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
Jan 30, 2025 9:00 AM EST

Job interviews are one of the most daunting experiences anyone can have. You're trying to make a good impression on them, they don't care at all about the impression they make on you, and your ability to pay the bills relies on how well you can lick the interviewer's boot. That's the reality of most job interviews, at least. There are select interviews that actually make you feel good when you step out of that foreign conference room, but this wouldn't be Fail Blog if we talked about corporate overlords and prospective employees holding hands and walking off into the sunset.

If you're here, you've likely been scorned a handful of times from a prospective job. Either they didn't get back to you or said "Thanks for your resume, we don't need it." But what about when you actually land the interview? The preemptive excitement is bittersweet (but mostly bitter) and you need to figure out if you'll be able to ace the corporate test they have waiting for you…

However, there are certain instances where you don't even give the company your precious time. "When?" you might be wondering. Well, scroll below and see for yourself!

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  • "[The company] seemed really surprised that they had good reviews on Indeed and Glassdoor."
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • What are subtle red flags at a job interview that says "working here would absolutely s ck"?
    via Reddit
  • SparklePetite tbh one subtle red flag I've noticed is when they seem way too proud of how much their employees 'go above and beyond.' If they're constantly talking about how 'dedicated' everyone is, or how people 'wear many hats,' it usually translates to overworked and underpaid
    via SparklePetite
  • Hour_Equal_9588 A red flag would be if the interviewer vaguely responds to the question about work life balance with, it gets hectic sometimes, but everyone loves the challenge
    via Hour_Equal_9588
  • MosaicTrain If the process is not smooth, and people are late and not ready for the interview... Shows you how the org really works...
    via MosaicTrain
  • Inevitable_Nobody... Being offered the job on the spot, they're desperate and the place is likely a revolving door
    via Inevitable_Nobody_89

  • This is definitely one of the biggest red flags. Getting hired on the spot for any job sounds good in theory, but when you apply that logic to real life, it just doesn't make sense. Especially nowadays, there are thousands of folks pinning after the same position. If they choose you and you know you were probably interviewee number three, reconsider your options. A revolving door of staff means people hate it there so much that they'd rather be unemployed. That is saying something (and you should listen).

  • Traditional Tackle1 "fast paced environment" means a lot of work for c ppy pay. Also if they started talking about how everyone there is like family run like h_l.
    via TraditionalTackle
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    via Monty Allen for Unsplash
  • chocolatechipninja "Flexible hours" means your time is their time, and you may or may not get your whole weekend.
    via chocolatechipninja
  • GreenT1979 You interview in a group with several other candidates. Also the listing said something like "superstars wanted"
    via GreenT1979
  • IllustriousAnchovy "We're like family here." I have a family. We've been to family therapy. No thanks. Also sometimes people just have an unhinged expression in their eyes. The last place I worked I called it.
    via IllustriousAnchovy
  • I came home after the interview, mom and hubby asked how it went. I said "I accepted the offer, but that b is straight up crazy. I saw it in her eyes." And sure enough. Not even 6 months later the irrational behavior began. By the end of the first year I quit and found something better.
    via IllustriousAnchovy
  • Elaine BeniceDancer Your first interview is with the president & CEO, and he's an amped-up 20- something who speaks in dog-whistle dia hea and his picture in the company's "About Us" page shows him in 3/4 profile with his arms folded, pushing out his biceps.
    via ElaineBeniceDancer
  • The68Guns I had one that seemed really surprised that they had good reviews on indeed and Glassdoor. I mentioned it and the interviewer was like "They did?" As it turned out, the place was a nightmare.
    via The68Guns
  • EmiliusReturns If they seem stressed, frazzled, in a hurry, or generally unprepared for the interview, it's not a good sign. Or if the interviewer doesn't have f all prepared for questions and just kinda goes "alright what do you wanna know about working here?" Gives a 2 minute blurb then seems completely out of ideas, etc.
    via EmiliusReturns
  • This has happened to me several times. Interviews are a two way street. You have to make a good impression on me, too. If you act like you don't have your sh together for an interview, why would I ever think you're going to have your sh together as a manager?
    via EmiliusReturns
  • Cheezburger Image 10460942080
    via Yunus Tuğ For Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • upstatenysfinest "are you interviewing for the money or the culture?" Also still referring to yourself as a "start up" when you've been in business for several years.
    via upstatenysfinest
  • No-Body8448 Walk through the place and look in people's eyes. You can tell pretty quickly if they're miserable or not. Happy people will look back, nod, smile, something. If people don't acknowledge your presence, run.
    via No-Body8448
  • Ekotap89 Just turned down a job because the owners "never took a day off cause we can't trust anyone". That just sounds like you have control issues.
    via Ekotap89
  • LIJ kie Being interviewed by the whole group. Screams micromanaging to me.
    via LIJ**kie
  • Glittering-Gur5513 If anyone unprompted says something "is not that bad" it is. Even if you don't know what it is yet.
    via Glittering-Gur5513
  • tramplemestilsken Jokes about how awful the boss is, how they will buy you dinner or pay for your cab if you work past 6, and how the last one in the office has to get everyone coffee. I passed on this one.
    via tramplemestilsken
  • eugeneugene When they act awkward/surprised that you have questions for them lol. Job interviews go two ways and every job I've worked that I have liked, they had no problem letting me interview them back.
    via eugeneugene

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