Interview “red flags”

AS writes: "I was asked at an interview how I would react if the boss slammed his fist down on the desk. How should I have answered that question?" Just so you all know, there is a happy ending to this story. When AS was offered the job she turned it down and found something better. She realised that the interview question was a giant "red flag".

There was no "right" answer to such a ludicrous question. My response would have been to ask a question or two of my own. I would want to know in what circumstances the manager in question would behave so badly? Also, did the company armed staff members with cans of water spray to hose the manager down when he or she started heating up?

When we want a job, it's easy to ignore the warning signs that the job on offer might not be for us. I had a job for a year that was a total wrong fit for me. I should have known something was up at the second interview when my future manager listed the countless ways I could fall foul of him. "If this happens, there will be trouble ... if that deadline is not met; we could come to a parting of the ways  ..." He went on and on and on so much so that I finally asked: "Is there anything about this job I will actually like?" If knew what I have learnt in this job about the workplace I would have turned him down when he offered me the job a few days later.

This is ground I have covered before in this column but it's worth repeating. Listen carefully to what is said in job interviews and if you have doubts, either ask for an explanation or keep looking for the right role.

By Kate Southam, Editor of careerone.com.au.

For more useful tips read the other stories in the Job Hunting Advice section and Ask Kate Column.