Red Flags You Should Look for During an Interview

5 minute read

written by Oriana Escalante

Dec 07, 2021

The recruitment and hiring process is one of the most important aspects of bringing someone new onboard. One of the main components of this process is the interviews that take place. We know that interviews can be incredibly nerve-wracking for someone, but it’s also a great time for the company to evaluate the candidate’s profile and for the candidate to show they’ve done their homework.

A recruitment process usually consists of posting the opening on job boards and sites, going through many resumés, and then conducting interviews. The best way to hold these interviews is remotely on video. This way, the company will be able to not only hear what the candidate has to say but watch how they say it and their body language.

On that note, here are some red flags to look for when interviewing a candidate:

  • Demonstrates insecurity regarding their work experience, does not know how to explain exactly the processes that are mentioned on their resumé.
  • They do not remember the information on their resumé, which may be related to issues with info retention and attention to detail.
  • Does not maintain eye contact or moves a lot during the interview. Although nerves might come into play, lack of eye contact or fidgeting is usually a red flag.
  • High turnover in previous roles without legitimate reasons. Job hopping can often indicate lack of commitment and follow-through.
  • They are late to the interview. We know that there may be emergencies, however, candidates who constantly reschedule or show up late clearly demonstrate that they can be disorganized and unreliable.
  • Express many complaints/disagreements about their previous jobs.
  • They do not know how to clearly express their ideas. Again, we know nerves might come into play, but this can usually mean larger communication issues down the line.

Of course, looking for these red flags and noticing them does not ensure that the company will get the right candidate, but it will certainly help in the process. As a rule of thumb, if a candidate shows more than 3 of these red flags, reconsider their application as they might be the best fit.

On the other hand, it’s important for candidates to prepare properly ahead of their interview. The moment someone decides to look for a new opportunity, they should be clear on what they’re looking for and how they want to grow professionally.

Like a company, there are red flags that a candidate should keep an eye out for during the process:

  • The interviewer can’t provide a clear picture of the job.
  • When asking about work environment, the responses are neutral. If the interviewer hesitates when answering a question related to culture, it can indicate dissatisfaction.
  • The interviewer is late or unprepared. This can often indicate lack of commitment and respect for someone’s time.
  • High turnover not only in the position you’re applying for, but in the company. This can be a sign of unhappy employees or a toxic environment.
  • The hiring process is slow and tedious. This can often mean you’re dealing with an inefficient organization, which is a huge red flag.

A company or a candidate who is not clear about what they are looking for or who has many inconsistencies in the information they provide, are clear alerts that must be considered.

If you want to leave the recruitment in the hands of professionals, reach out to Cápita Works at (619) 991-9197.   

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