Every career has its share of challenges, and one of the most important is avoiding bad bosses. Pay attention to these red flags during the interview to spot a bad boss. Knowing these indicators helps you avoid working for a boss who will make your job a nightmare. Keeping this list of bad boss red flags handy to ensure success by steering clear of toxic bosses and dysfunctional workplaces.
How to Spot a Bad Boss During an Interview
Here are eight common red flags to watch for during an interview. Hiring managers demonstrating these signs are indications of a bad boss.
Watch for body language
Knowing how to spot a bad boss during a job interview is vital to finding yourself in the right place. Body language can give away a great deal regarding how someone feels and how they might treat you as an employee should they be your boss. Are they rolling their eyes, furrowing their brow, or avoiding eye contact when answering your questions? Is their body turned slightly away from you, or do they seem to be watching the clock? Reading these subtle nuances of body language can save you a lot of trouble. Masks may cover how people feel, but paying attention to how the hiring manager behaves can be equally informative when looking for a new boss.
Spot common traits from past bad bosses
No one wants to end up with a terrible boss, and recognizing how to spot one in an interviewer is essential. Bad bosses typically share many common traits, such as having unjust expectations, being unreasonably harsh, or not allowing employee input.
During your interview process, look for any indications that your potential boss might match these descriptions. Carefully examine the language they use and how they frame questions. For example, do they back you into a corner and expect you to accept their terms without much consideration from yourself? Or are they open to dialogue and willing to move toward compromises?
From their mannerisms and how the office environment feels, it is possible to pick out tangible signs of bad bosses before even starting the job. Do not ignore these signs. It’s critical to pay attention and recognize how certain characteristics could potentially impact how successful or enjoyable your workplace experience ends up being.
The hiring manager shows up unprepared
Spotting a bad boss during an interview can be difficult, but it’s usually a warning sign if the interviewer seems unprepared. If the hiring manager asks questions that are on your resume or LinkedIn profile, it shows they didn’t do their research beforehand. Additionally, good questions should challenge your experience. So, if the interviewer’s questions feel flimsy and unfocused, they probably weren’t prepared to speak with you. It may be the case that this manager will not have enough time for you after you take the job – making this sign of disorganization something to watch for in an interview.
They are unable to answer your questions
When you’re interviewing, how a hiring manager responds to your questions can tell you a lot about how they manage. If they cannot or will not answer straightforward questions like, “what does a day in the life look like?”, “what are the measures of success?”, and “what does an ideal candidate look like?” then it could be a sign that they are not engaged or that the role has not been well organized. How the hiring manager presents themselves is how they present the company and how they will manage their team. How can things get any better once you’re hired if you don’t get clear answers during an interview? Being observant and vigilant throughout the process for how your interviewers handle themselves is how to spot if there’s a bad boss waiting for you on the other side.
They have a bad attitude
How the hiring manager behaves can tell you a lot about how they view their role and the company. A bad attitude or lack of enthusiasm indicates that they don’t value the position or the company. If your interviewer acts put out by being there, resists answering your questions, or fails to provide any kind of enthusiasm or excitement, it could be a warning sign that all isn’t well within. It’s important to remember that how the hiring manager behaves is a direct reflection of the wider organization.
They demonstrate a distrust of others
During an interview, how you can spot a bad boss can vary, but one sure sign is if the hiring manager openly distrusts others. They could be blaming others for problems within the organization or bad-mouthing team members. How they address these matters should raise some red flags. It’s understandable to want a boss who trusts you. So ask about the amount of anonymity that would be given during your role. Ultimately, a lack of trust speaks volumes. This hiring manager could be a micro-manager or, even worse, a bad boss.
They use poor word choices
How your hiring manager speaks can indicate how they will be as a boss during an interview. If they use phrases like “you will have to deal with xyz” or start their sentences off on a negative note, indicates they are full of negativity and lack a positive attitude. This is not the kind of environment you want to work in, so pay attention to language to spot a bad boss during an interview. Paying attention to how someone speaks and how comfortable you feel during the interview process can help filter out any bad bosses before signing on for the job.
The hiring manager focuses on them, them, them
One of the key signs to spot a bad boss during an interview is how they ask questions and how they handle your ideas. If they spend more time talking and outlining their own plans rather than focusing on understanding how you think and how you’ll approach challenges, that’s usually a red flag. Additionally, if they consistently interrupt you while answering questions or tell you that you’re wrong without explaining why, it may be a sign that they don’t respect your opinion and could be difficult to work with later on.
Knowing how to spot a good or bad boss during an interview is important. Before your interview, take some time to think about what you want or need in a boss. Would you prefer someone passionate and hands-on or someone who just goes through the motions? Consider the career stage you’re in now, but also imagine what kind of support will help take you where you want to go. Knowing these details can help you formulate intelligent questions to ask. It also offers clues as to how successful this potential relationship could be. Thinking critically before an interview can make all the difference in how it turns out.
Last updated on January 18th, 2023 at 07:26 am
