Beware Hiring Managers Who Spew Nonsense

A few years ago I went on vacation with my family to Costa Rica. While we were there, we visited Arenal Volcano. Although the volcano is in a “resting” phase, there was plenty of smoke and some rocks shooting out of the top. Not sure I would want to be there for a full eruption (lava and burning alive does not really appeal to me). So what does this have to do with job search?

A friend of mine went on an interview for a senior level position with very large financial institution. The hiring manager turned out to be a real jerk. He cursed the entire time, thought my friend’s experience was spotty at best, never asked any questions and spent the bulk of the interview telling my friend how great he (the hiring manager) was. He kind of reminded my friend of a volcano (spewing smoke and rocks) and, like my trip to Arenal, my friend said he would not want to be around when a real eruption occurred.

Fortunately for my friend, there were obvious warning signs and even if he got a job offer he would not take it. But many times, the warning signs of a potentially bad job situation are not evident during the interview process. Generally speaking, everyone is on their best behavior during the interview process and very often we are not aware of a bad situation until it is too late (like the first week on the job). So what are the warning signs of a bad situation? They are not always evident but there are some things you can look for.

• View the Environment– As you walk through the office on your way to your interview, take a look at the people and the working conditions. Do people generally look unhappy? Are there 5 people to a cubicle? Look for the warning signs.
  • Warning signs: How to spot a bad company culture during the interview – Lots of good pointers in this article posted on Workopolis.com.

• How did the Interview Go?– Of course we always want to make the best impression so that we can get the job, but you also need to take notice of things said (and not said) during the interview process. Is the hiring manager obnoxious (like my friend experienced)? It is not just about you getting a job, it is about you getting the right job in the right company.
  • Watch for Interview Warning Signs – Great examples of things that come up during the interview process that should be warning signs.

• Ask the Right Questions– We all study potential interview questions (we don’t want to get those wrong). But what about questions you should be asking the hiring manager? Questions that will help you spot the job from hell.
  • How to Smell a Bad Boss in Just One Interview

• Background Checks Work Both Ways– No doubt your potential employer will do all sorts of background checks on you before they offer you a job. What about you doing a background check on the company and your hiring manager.
  • 10 Warning Signs of a Toxic Boss at the Interview

Other Interesting reads:

• 43 weird things said in job interviews
• My new job is not the promised job. What do I do?”

Good luck in your search.

By: CareerAlley

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.