7 Red Flags To Be Aware Of In Your Next Interview

Interviewing for a new IT job can be stressful. It can make many tech professionals want the process to be over as soon as possible. However, it’s important to make the most of the interview period, so you know that you are a good fit for the company and vice versa. Make an uninformed decision, and you might find yourself back on the job search, with a gap on your CV, in no time. Here are some key red flags to look out for in your next interview:

Looking for red flags in an interview? Research the company first.

You’ve been offered an interview. Great news. Do yourself a favour and do some quick checks on the company before you start putting time and effort into preparing for your interview. Check the company reviews on Glassdoor and see what employees and ex-employees are saying about the business. While it is important to take these with a pinch of salt, they can show a general trend of how employees view the company.

Further to this, you should check the financial health of the company. You can look on Companies House to see the previous companies the directors are associated with – is there a history of their businesses going bankrupt or having legal issues? Finding out this information can make you feel more assured that the company will not go bankrupt and end in you not being paid. When you’re reassured that the company reviews look good and they’re in a good financial position, it’s time to continue on to the interview process.

The process

The interview process includes everything from when you first communicate with the employer to when they offer you the IT job. Do they allow for adjustments in the interview process in terms of times, dates, or whether it’s virtual or not? Is the process long and drawn-out, with little communication and lots of delays with no feedback? All of these restrictions might signal how the company functions day to day.

Your experience

The interview should be a two-way process. In the past, interviews were more one-sided. Candidates were put through the wringer, with the interviewer trying to exert their power. Luckily, these sorts of interviews are becoming less frequent, with companies prioritising getting the best out of their interviewees, and aiming to form a long-term partnership with the right person.

Does the interviewer give you an opportunity to interview them? The sign of a good company is one that wants to hear your questions/concerns and explains why you should join them.

Remember to ask to see the office during the interview! If the company doesn’t want you to do this, this might be a concern. The interviewer should want to show you around, it’s a great opportunity for you to see the atmosphere, look at the environment you’d be working in and gauge if people look happy and get on well with each other.

Effects of the Pandemic

Asking how the company dealt with the pandemic is a great example of how the company potentially deals with its employees more generally. If the company had mass redundancies and can’t explain what its strategy was at the time, this could be an indicator of how the company deals with stressful times and financial difficulties.

Whilst we might not have another pandemic in our lifetime, understanding how committed a company is to treating its employees with respect and support is an important consideration.

Recognising success

Recognising success and being able to celebrate individuals in the company, is important for a healthy work culture. Ask the company what they do to make their employees feel appreciated and how they celebrate employee success. If a company has a commitment to communicating success, it’s likely to have a good culture. If the company doesn’t really have an answer, this could be another red flag for how they treat their team.

Mission statements and values

Some companies state their sustanability and diversity commitments on their website and social media. But do they stick by them? Make sure you look up these CSR goals and mention them at the interview.

If you can’t find them, feel free to ask in the interview if they have these goals and what they do to fulfil them. If the interviewer doesn’t know what they are or can’t explain them when asked, it could indicate a disconnect between management, the company vision, and the everyday reality of the company.

Career progression

Career progression is important. Make sure you ask if there are regular salary and progression reviews. Do they have any examples of how someone in the team progressed from the role you are interviewing for? If there is a high turnover of staff and no real examples of how someone in a similar IT job progressed within the company, this might be a cause of concern.

Overall, while it is good to be aware of these red flags in your next interview, it’s also important to trust your gut. If you have a hunch the company isn’t a good fit for you, then it’s likely it won’t be. Don’t panic or feel pressured to accept a role just because it has been offered.

Our experienced team of recruiters have a fantastic variety of IT job roles available at the moment and can support you in finding one that does fit.