Interviews aren’t just about deciding if the job applicant is the right person for the job; they’re also about the applicant discovering if the job and company is right for them.
For both sides, company and applicant, red flags can pop up to show this might not be a work relationship worth considering. However, the job market is currently competitive, and employers are willing to overlook some qualities they would have seen as red flags in the past. To figure out what these red flags were, we asked both employers and job seekers about job search red flags. Let’s dig into the results.
Job Seekers
The biggest interview red flag for job seekers? “High employee turnover,” which earned 17% of the vote. Next was “the interviewer putting down co-workers, competitors, etc.” with 15%, and then “the interviewer is vague about the specifics of the job” with 14%. This was followed by “company values that don’t line up with yours” and “poor online reviews,” both at 11%, and “unprepared interviewer/unfocused interview process” and “the interviewer is vague about advancements opportunities” at 10%.
Employers
When it comes to job applicants, employers had their own set of red flags. However, hiring skilled job applicants is tougher in a job seeker’s market, and employers are willing to overlook some of these red flags. In today’s job market, twenty-two percent of employers said they would be willing to overlook “gaps in employment,” while 20% could be willing to hire applicants that don’t “meet minimum experience requirements.” Eighteen percent would be willing to hire someone that “doesn’t meet education/certification requirements.” Fifteen percent were fine with “job hopping,” while 12% were willing to overlook “grammar mistakes and typos in resumes.” Nine percent could see past a “lack of supervisory experience,” but only 3% could overlook an applicant being “disorganized/unprepared during the interview.”
What Does It Mean?
So, what does all this mean for job applicants? It’s a job seekers market, so interview power is currently in your hands. If you notice any red flags in your interview, know that you might be in a good position to reject the job offer and keep looking for a company and position that is right for you. Employers are willing to overlook qualities that would traditionally cause them to pass on a prospective employee, so the right job for you is out there!
Do you have any other interview red flags? Let us know in the comments section below!
