Biggest Interview Red Flags (From The Perspective of a Candidate) 

Working within a poor-quality environment can have various detrimental effects on a person’s mental health and willingness to contribute to the business. Unfortunately, it can be challenging to identify these poor-quality environments before actually working within them on a day-to-day basis making the spotting of any red flags within the recruitment process all the more important. The interview process is the stage at which a candidate is given the opportunity to discover more about the business making it far easier to spot any potential underlying issues or simply whether the role isn’t a good fit for the individual themselves. Below are the biggest red flags a candidate should keep an eye out for during the interview process.

Candidate Interaction 

One major indicator of a low-quality workplace is how the employer interacts with the candidate during the interview process:

If the interviewer does not ask any meaningful questions about the candidates qualifications or is evasive when asked questions about the company or culture, this could be a sign that they do not prioritise employee relations.

The workplace is a professional environment and if the candidate is not treated with politeness and respect, this could be indicative of a business that doesn’t value its employees.

If the interviewer focuses solely on any negative aspects of their business rather than highlighting any positive developments, this could be an indication that they are stuck in a rut and might not be offering a positive working environment.

Drawn-out Hiring Processes

While hiring time can vary between roles and industries, a business should generally look to keep candidates informed on how this process is going and when they might expect to get a response at the various stages. If the hiring process takes far too long, this could indicate that the business isn’t well organised or simply doesn’t respect your time. On the other hand, a rushed hiring process could indicate high staff turnover and a need to quickly onboard new employees.

Many of the top employers make use of Applicant Tracking Systems to keep in regular contact with their talent pool and provide a refined recruitment funnel.

Initial Impressions 

The interview process presents a unique opportunity to get a taste of the work environment; while you’re likely not exactly going to get a broad view of the working day, you will be able to get a general idea of the atmosphere and a better idea of how the business runs behind the scenes. Ask questions and do your research beforehand.

It's worth noting that in a recent report it was identified that most Careers Sites contain limited additional content over and above Job Vacancies - and much of it is designed around the company and the early stages of the talent attraction funnel. But Peak Performing Careers Sites are far more likely to contain ‘Candidate-Centric’ content. This free report lists content forward thinking employers share with candidates to engage and inform (see page 32 of the report).

Contact Eploy for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

At Eploy, we offer a highly configurable Applicant Tracking System designed to help you attract, hire, and retain the best talent. Get in touch with our specialist team at Eploy to find out how we can help you meet your recruitment goals or schedule a personalised demo. No hard sell, no strings attached. Just some winning ideas to help you.