'You Will Truly Be a Part of the Family': Toxic Job Interview Red Flags

Job interviews are hard enough without trying to read between lines for toxicity in any given workplace. So we're here to help.

By zachnading

Published 2 years ago in Facepalm

Job interviews are hard enough without trying to read between lines for toxicity in any given workplace. So we're here to help.

Thanks to AskReddit, we've compiled the most insane red flags experienced during job interviews. Happy hunting.

1
Any time a hiring manager talks up the company's bonuses and raises to justify their low salary, you'd better believe you're not actually getting either. -ThreeStacksRadio

2
Trying to get you to agree to start before they tell you what you’ll be paid. -operative87

3
If they ever say "people just don't want to work anymore" or something similar, RUN. They won't value your time you as an employee, pay is likely to be shit, management is going to be incompetent and/or overbearing, and options for raises, promotions, or career advancement is going to be minimal to none. -SplendidMrDuck
4
The job would have very little to do with my credentials even though the listing said they were “a plus to have.” -AdjectiveNounXXXX

5
"Here you will truly be a part of the (corporation) family." -BabyBabaBofski
6
Had an owner of a restaurant tell me "If you have a problem don't come to me cause you won't like how I fix it" Yeah, keep your job. -DeftTrack81
7
"We expect our employees to be flexible regarding work schedules: Would you be available to work evenings, weekends, and occasionally on holidays with short notice according to our needs?" -Back2Bach

8
The interviewer keeps telling you how fortunate you are to be there like they are doing you a favor by giving you the job. -SuvenPan
9
When I mentioned a company's dismal Glassdoor evaluations, they became so enraged that they ended the interview. Well, I suppose I escaped that danger. -Alhbf
10
An interviewer tried to convince me to lowball myself after I said what I’d accept as a minimum salary which was in their offer range from the posting. “If we pay you more you wouldn’t get a bonus at the end of the year, and you’d be really upset when everyone else got one.” --Apocalypse-Cow-

11
Work hard play hard is code for this job has driven everyone in the department to become alcoholics. -mtgguy999
12
If you have to pay any amount of money in order to work for them it is a scam and stay away. -picov90198
13
When they have nothing good to say about the person whose position they are trying to fill. They aren’t necessarily talking bad about the person- just little digs, almost passive aggressive. -Laceybabe9669

14
If you ask what's the best part about working there and they address things like "Oh it's a great location" or "We get free lunch" instead of saying what they like about the actual job or company. --eDgAR-
15
“We’ll start you at minimum and re-evaluate in a month.” -Hot_Salad9000
16
If you hear the word "sales" mentioned ANYWHERE in the job description, then sales will be your main job. -mediumokra

17
Second hand info but one of my coworkers told me an interviewer asked for her social media passwords to “expedite their background check.” -mandichaos
18
If it seems like nobody has a personality. I always make it a point to make some small talk with receptionists or people interviewing me. If they shut it down immediately or just otherwise give off a "WTF are you talking to me?" vibe. NOPE. -tiwega6117
19
I always ask everyone in the room when their last vacation was. -GenericHam

20
In one interview I was enthusiastically assured that overtime wasn't an issue, but if you pick up an extra shift they pay in gift cards so that it saves you on taxes. -Cook_n_shit