Watch Out for These Job Interview Red Flags

You can never predict how a new job will pan out. But keeping an eye out for red flags during the interview process can help you avoid making a decision you might later regret. Here are some warning signs to look out for.

• Disorganization. It’s not unusual to have to reschedule a job interview, but if it happens more than once or twice, or the recruiter takes an exceedingly long time to respond to your emails, it’s an indication that something is amiss.
• Bait and switch. If the job you’re interviewing for starts to sound very different from the description you applied to, it might be time to reconsider.
• An excessive number of interviews and/or a drawn-out interview process. Either (or both) of these can be a sign that the team or organization is overly consensus-driven, indecisive, or has issues driving things to completion.
• Ultimatums. If you receive a so-called “exploding job offer” — a firm deadline on a tight timeline — this could be a sign that the organization is inflexible, bullying, or autocratic.