‘HR manager couldn’t remember the name of their health insurance provider’: Interview veterans share their interview red flags that made them run for the hills and refuse the job offer

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
May 21, 2025 5:00 PM EDT

Do you remember your first job interview? You fumbled with your tie just enough so it fit a bit too tight around your neck; You spilled your $7 coffee all over your pants as you tripped into the elevator on your way up to the office. These things happen, and it's important to remember that the prospective job and its employees have to make a good impression on you just as you have to make a good impression on them. If they start spewing stuff during the interview that seems crimson, it's best to head for the hills. If you don't, you might be stuck with a toxic boss who doesn't know their right from their left and makes it YOUR problem…

In the Reddit thread below, job seekers and other members of the workforce are asked to list some of the most obvious red flags that should prevent anyone from accepting a job offer at a company. Many speak from personal experience to their dismay, but it's important to have these conversations—it might prevent you from accepting an offer that ruins your life…

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  • Some indicators that you don't want the job might be disguised as green flags. The first one of the bunch from one commenter claims that any job that suggests that the employees are a “family” should be avoided. This is common practice; bosses put a false veil of security, comfort, and safety over a mess of a system to their new hires aren't able to see them for what they really are…

  • "Bad mouthing former employees"
    via Resume Genius for Unsplash

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

  • "What is a red flag during an interview that indicates you should not accept the job even if you get offered the position?"

    You're attending an interview. The interviewer is the hiring mana ger, the person who you'd directly report to if hired.
    via Typical_Cap895
  • What are red flags to watch for from the hiring manager? That'd tell you it's a bad idea to accept the job even if it's offered to you?
    via Typical_Cap895
  • Spiritual_Being5845 We're like family here. If you hear that run, don't walk, to the nearest exit. In interviews I ask about their turnover rate, if they balk at that question or look uncomfortable then they probably have employees regularly jumping ship.
    via Spiritual_Being5845
  • Fantastic_Whole_8185 They ask questions outside the scope of employment, or are illegal to ask.
    via Fantastic_Whole_8185
  • Gee_Wiz1225 I have a few. Shocked nobody said this. Punctuality. Whether virtual or in-person, show up on time especially because I'm expected to.
    via Gee_Wiz1225
  • When someone looks at my resume for the first time... during the interview. prep. Why am I here?
    via Gee_Wiz1225
  • When the manager describes themselves as being blunt or direct. Majority of the time that is code for "I'm an a_h_le. I'm gonna call you sensitive if you complain about it."
    via Gee_Wiz1225
  • When the whole interview is me answering very basic star questions. "Tell me about a time when..." Answering those questions will not properly display my ability to excel in the role. Tells me my manager either doesn't have a backbone, or they don't know how to interview.
    via Gee_Wiz1225
  • IndependenceMean8774 If they lie and say one thing at the interview but then do something else or change the terms at the offer stage, reject the job offer. They are liars and their word means nothing. It will come back to haunt you if you accept it.
    via IndependenceMean8774
  • Cheezburger Image 10508049920
    via IndependenceMean8774
  • Cheezburger Image 10508050176
    via IndependenceMean8774
  • Cthulhu_Knits HR manager couldn't remember the name of their health insurance provider.
    via Cthulhu_Knits
  • HEALTH INSURANCE der-Insured Details B. Patient Details Country and region Om Om Email MC B 5 00
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+
  • Historical_Oven7806 Bad mouthing former employees
    via Historical_Oven7806
  • PhDTARDIS They immediately start confronting you. You know you have to work outside, right? (car sales, duh!)
    via PhDTARDIS
  • What makes you think you're better than me at this job? (never met the guy but made me wait two hours to interview and because unemployment sent me, I had to stay). If they only talk in negatives about the job and the people who work there, run.
    via PhDTARDIS
  • LaurieLoveLove During the interview, the woman I would have been working for told me that her husband worked out of town during the week, and her kids were grown, so work was all she had in her life. Yikes! Another time, the interviewer lit a ciga tte. No ma'am.
    via LaurieLoveLove
  • Historical_Oven7806 Dancing around the questions that you ask
    via Historical_Oven7806
  • usernamesarehard1979 Honestly, the max amount of interviews should be two and you should expect some kind of offer after two. If they can't make a decision by then it's probably going to be ab working there.
    via usernamesarehard1979
  • Lolli_79 When they laugh about how insufficient their onboarding and training is.
    via Lolli_79
  • foolproofphilosophy Turnover goes both ways. High turnover gets all of the attention but low turnover can also indicate issues. Too low can mean that there aren't many good exit opportunities and/or the culture is stagnant.
    via foolproofphilosophy

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Tags

workplace-stories toxic-workplace work askreddit reddit story horrible-management workplace Horrible Bosses reddit thread red flag job interview interview entitled people toxic-work-environment
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