Hiring the right candidates is one of the most important actions a company can take. Employees run the show, so recruiting quality candidates or “bad apples” can be detrimental to key roles in the organization.
So, how do you identify a suitable candidate while recruiting? And what are the warning signs to keep an eye out for?
This article will look at the top job interview red flags the hiring team should look out for during the interview process. This can save you from unnecessary admin and weed out any unfit candidates.
Job Interview Red Flags To Look Out For As A Hiring Manager
In 2022, employers found that 46% of their newest hires did not meet their expectations due to the challenge of securing qualified personnel during the pandemic.
This goes to show how critical it is for employers to be aware of potential red flags in the interview process. It doesn’t however, mean that hiring managers should start the interview process overly skeptical about the outcomes.
Rather, it means they should keep their eyes open for what could waste time and resources or jeopardize the company’s culture.
Here are some of the top job interview red flags to watch out for.
1. Showing Up Late For The Interview
If a candidate shows up late or is unprepared for an interview, it’s a clear sign that they don’t respect your time.
Lateness may signify a lack of respect and consideration. And could be a signal of tardy behavior to come.
2. Unprofessional Attire
Dressing appropriately for an interview is a matter of professionalism and a sign of respect. A candidate who shows up in casual “weekend attire” is likely not to represent your image in the best light.
3. The Candidate Has Unrealistic Expectations
It’s important to understand upfront whether the person will be happy with the package on offer. This may be in terms of salary and/or job tasks and requirements.
If a job candidate is asking for more than what you offering in terms of money and/or work-life balance, you either need to ask them to justify the value they would bring to your organization. Or, you need to end the recruitment process with that candidate.
4. Struggles To Talk Through Their Previous Experience
If a candidate can’t describe their past jobs or achievements, it doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence in their competency.
They may have poor communication skills. Or they could just be poor performers.
5. Uses Inadequate References
Providing references from previous employers or educational institutions is essential.
Hiring teams should understand that in some instances, people leave their job on bad terms, or maybe they’re new to the country and still need to build up their references.
If this is the case, the candidate should make it clear in the job interview so that you have a full understanding of the situation.
6. Negative Attitude
A good interviewer should watch out for body language. Crossing their arms or not maintaining eye contact speaks volumes about a person. If you notice a negative work attitude from this initial interaction, this could be a glimpse into their general work attitude and persona.
7. Lack of Research
If a candidate has no follow-up questions, it is likely that they didn’t put any effort into preparing for the interview. This is one of the critical red flags to watch out for.
Conducting research and taking the time to understand the company shows passion and drive.
8. Negatively Discussing Past Employers
In your job interviews, it is vital that you pay attention to any negative comments made about past employers.
This could lead to a toxic employee, who may negatively affect your company culture. And an employee who is likely to bad-mouth your company as well.
9. Shifting Responsibility Onto Others
When you ask a candidate to describe a mistake they made, they should explain how they learned from it. If they blame someone else or make excuses, that may signify a poor work ethic or an inability to collaborate on projects that involve multiple people, including other employees and key stakeholders.
10. Frequent Job Changes
If the person has changed jobs every year or two, it’s never a good sign. This could indicate that they aren’t very productive or don’t play well in teams.
If someone has had three jobs in five years, this could also mean they encountered issues with performance at their previous companies.
Be direct. Check whether there were any problems in their previous role by asking them during the interview. And consulting with the references listed.
11. The Candidate Contradicts Themself
In a panel interview process, hiring managers must be wary of candidates who contradict themselves. Or provide alternate answers to their resumes.
Talk through their previous experience and ask questions to get a broad understanding of their roles and career paths. This will also help in verifying their listed responsibilities at past companies.
12. Missing Home Addresses
When reviewing resumes as a potential employer, you should look out for missing home addresses.
Missing home addresses could indicate that a candidate does not live in the area and may need extra time to relocate or leave their current job if hired. This can cause delays in the start date.
13. Overqualified
Overqualified candidates may have difficulty staying in the role long-term. They’ll be more likely to leave when a better opportunity arises. Or leave for a higher salary elsewhere.
These candidates may also have work-life balance expectations that supersede what’s reasonably possible.
Their constant bargaining can frustrate a hiring manager and lead to a drawn-out interview process.
Conclusion
Hiring the right people for key positions in your organization takes skill and a well-structured recruitment process.
Part of this hiring process is being aware of potential job interview red flags when interviewing candidates. These red flags may range from inappropriate work attire to contradicting themselves when talking about their resumes.
Using the list of possible red flags to look out for above, you can create a seamless interview process and weed out any candidates who may not be a good fit for your business.
