20+ Job interview red flags: 'If you pick up an extra shift, they pay in gift cards'

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Jan 17, 2026 11:00 AM EST

What's the biggest red flag you've ever been shocked to discover in the middle of a job interview? 

When searching for a new job, these people were surprised at the absolute state of some companies. Some workplaces don't take their workers seriously at all, and that results in a revolving door of workers who sign on, become frustrated with the way things are run, then quit. You'd think this kind of repeat behavior would inspire change, but it certainly does not. 

For example, some of these places will boldly play in applicants' faces, knowing that only the inexperienced workers will take the bait. There are a few things that reputable companies will never do. They should never require you to buy something or pay money up front — like if they ask you to pay for a required learning course or something, it's not legit. They should have an actual salary range allocated for the role (although not every state implements this). When a company shares that a role will pay a certain amount per day if and only if you actually sell a certain amount of product, that's also not going to be worth your time. Same thing goes for any company that cheerfully insists that "Our hours are 9-5, but a lot of people like to work later than that!" Uh, no they don't. They want to go home to their families or play pickleball with their friends, but instead, they're stuck waiting around, playing corporate games, since that job can't properly enforce boundaries. 

The people who know how to spot red flags will easily sidestep these bad opportunities, and meanwhile, young workers or those who are desperate to find a role will take these jobs. Sometimes you just have to learn from experience, and it does seem like some of the people below got such bad vibes from their interviewing experience that they didn't bother to pursue that role any further. When in doubt, go with your gut feeling! There's no need to entertain any hiring manager who can't give you straight answers, is impolite, or who keeps you waiting for a long time before interviewing you. On to the next job opportunity! 

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  • 01
    Woman in black sits in 1 of 4 white chairs in waiting room setting, holding paper folder and leaning one arm on chin and knee looking bored
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

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

  • 02
    Cook_n_s In one interview I was enthusiastically assured that overtime wasn't an issue, but if you pick up an extra shift they pay in gift cards. so that it saves you on taxes. I know they're trying to save themselves employment taxes and time and a half, they're not doing me any favors. I declined their offer.
    via u/Cook_n_sh*t
  • 03
    [deleted] "We'll start you at minimum and re-evaluate in a month"
    via u/[deleted]
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    GenericHam I always ask everyone in the room when their last vacation was.
    via u/GenericHam
  • 05
    Alhbf When I mentioned a company's dismal Glassdoor evaluations, they became so enraged that they ended the interview. Well. I suppose I escaped that danger
    via u/Alhbf
  • 06
    -Apocalypse-Cow- An interviewer tried to convince me to lowball myself after I said what I'd accept as a minimum salary which was in their offer range from the posting. "If we pay you more you wouldn't get a bonus at the end of the year, and you'd be really upset when everyone else got one."
    via u/-Apocalypse-Cow-
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    What he was "able" to offer salary wise was $10k below their posted range.
    via u/-Apocalypse-Cow-
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    DeftTrack81 Had an owner of a restaurant tell me "If you have a problem don't come to me cause you won't like how I fix it" Yeah, keep your job.
    via u/DeftTrack81
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    operative87 Trying to get you to agree to start before they tell you what you'll be paid.
    via u/operative87
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    ThreeStacks Radio I interviewed for one once where the manager spent the whole time asking me the usual questions in between rounds of berating some poor tech support employee on the phone about their payroll software.
    via u/ThreeStacksRadio
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    Also any time a hiring manager talks up the company's bonuses and raises to justify their low salary, you'd better believe you're not actually getting either.
    via u/ThreeStacksRadio
  • 12
    Lin... Once I had an interview where they silently gave me a questionnaire to fill out for 50 questions and just went to another room. The questions were very detailed and stupid, mostly about money. 'Is your goal to make money in our company?' (If the answer is 'yes', then you didn't pass). I left before I
    via u/Lina_Grapes
  • 13
    even finished answering this list. And then I found out that they register employees for an incredibly low official salary, promising to pay most of it at the end of the month, but they delayed money for six months and don't give it out if the person quit. I'm glad I left.
    via u/Lina_Grapes
  • 14
    carefreeguru I drove about 4 hours to an interview in another city. I told the person interviewing me that I was happy at my current job and wouldn't consider leaving just for the higher pay. He stood up and looked over the cubicle walls to make sure no one was around and whispered, "You don't want to work here."
    via u/carefreeguru
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    I passed on that job but while in the new city I applied for another job where I have been happy for the last 25+ years.
    via u/carefreeguru
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    love_is_an_action When they don't realize that you're interviewing each other.
    via u/love_is_an_action
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    mediumokra If you hear the word "sales" mentioned ANYWHERE in the job description, then sales will be your main job.
    via u/mediumokra
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    Laceybabe9669 When they have nothing good to say about the person whose position they are trying to fill. They aren't necessarily talking bad about the person- just little digs, almost passive aggressive.
    via u/Laceybabe9669
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    fshnow Once you realize that all upper management is family.
    via u/fshnow
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    Baby BabaBofski "what did you earn at your previous occupation" "We are not looking for someone with a 9 to 5 mentality" "Here you will truly be a part of the (corporation) family"
    via u/Baby BabaBofski
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    Thirtythirdthrees "We work hard play hard" "OT is basically Infinite, and you can work it as much as you want" "We have a high turn over rate cause people just stop coming to work"
    via u/Thirtythirdthrees
  • 22
    mandichaos Second hand info but one of my coworkers told me an interviewer asked for her social media passwords to "expedite their background check."
    via u/mandichaos
  • 23
    She did NOT comply and bailed on the whole interview. It was some small IT firm that got government contracts, don't recall the name & I'm not going to guess because I don't want to smear the wrong employer. I only remember the story because we were all shocked at the audacity.
    via u/mandichaos
  • 24
    secretmacaroni I did an interview 2 days ago and the red flags I saw were: 1. Not sticking to the agreed upon time (that they chose). We began 40 minutes late 2. They were rushing through the questions and kept saying they were short on time
    via u/secretmacaroni
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    3. What's your current salary 4. "Don't expect a standard 8 to 4. This position requires long hours, some weekends and public holidays. We need to make sure you understand this and also are you married or got any kids?
    via u/secretmacaroni
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    5. Listing responsibilities not mentioned at all in the job description. As an insights analyst, why would I have to do site visits? 6. I pulled out a small book with my questions they looked nervous because short on time and they kept saying they were hungry and didn't eat all day etc.
    via u/secretmacaroni
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    7. Asking me for ideas on how to improve their app. How would I go about starting this one specific project etc
    via u/secretmacaroni
  • 28
    Two women sit in brightly lit office setting with open notebooks in front of them, holding pens and smiling
    via Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash+

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

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    JAMS_ Anywhere that makes you feel it is your privilege to work there (main example being any form of internship. or unpaid labour).
    via u/__JAMS__
  • 30
    watopi8482 "We're like a startup" is usually bad. Everyone has to wear every hat and is completely overworked
    via u/watopi8482
  • 31
    mutnik One tip I have is to ask what lies outside the scope of your role. If they are unable to tell you this then this could mean the role will be a dumping ground for all the work nobody else wants to do.
    via u/mutnik
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    tiwega6117 If they ask you to clock out and then keep working to finish closing or whatever, run away fast. It's never just a one-time thing.
    via u/tiwega6117
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    eddyathome Residents from CA, CO, DC, NYC, and WA need not apply. They have salary transparency laws so the company is going to lowball you big time.
    via u/eddyathome
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    tiwega6117 If it seems like nobody has a personality. I always make it a point to make some small talk with receptionists or people interviewing me. If they shut it down immediately or just otherwise give off a "WTF are you talking to me?" vibe. NOPE.
    via u/tiwega6117
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    trennels "We expect salaried employees to work at least 60 hours/week."
    via u/trennels
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    -eDgAR- It's an older/established company, but everyone working there is young/new aside from the higher ups. Also, if you ask what's the best part about working there and they address things like "Oh it's a great location" or "We get free lunch" instead of saying what they like about the actual job or company.
    via u/-eDgAR-
  • 37
    Woman with short hair dressed in black sits in chairs looking at paper, behind her a man and woman sit at desk together in office setting
    via Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash+

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

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