When a job candidate has a less-than-perfect interview, it doesn't necessarily mean you're at a dead end or that he’s wrong for the position. But there are some key warning signs you shouldn’t ignore during the recruitment process. The next time you interview a potential employee, watch out for these seven interview red flags:
1. Fumbling the basics
Here's one of the top interview red flags: When job candidates show up late for an interview, it usually means one of two things: They don’t value the job opportunity enough to be on time, or they aren’t good at planning ahead. And although you can’t judge a book by its cover, attire and grooming should be appropriate for an accounting or finance job interview. If it’s not, you might be dealing with someone who lacks professionalism or good judgment.
2. Jekyll and Hyde
This is an interview red flag that might be hard to spot. Some candidates show the interviewer one personality while presenting another to everyone else. Ask your receptionist and other office personnel about their experiences with the candidate. If interviewees are polite to you but rude or impatient with your staff, they'll likely giving you some insight into how they might behave around your workplace if you hire them.
3. Lack of attention
You can tell whether a candidate is really interested and engaged by body language, eye contact and overall etiquette during the interview. Does the candidate look at the clock or check his smartphone during the interview? Does the interviewee look bored with your questions? Both things are strong interview red flags that the job might not be a good fit.
4. No pre-interview research
At some point during the interview, you’ll probably ask a few company-specific interview questions, like "What attracted you to this firm?" If the interviewee stumbles or gives you a generic answer, it may be a sign that he didn’t research your company before the interview — perhaps because he’s not organized enough to prepare well, or because the position isn’t a high priority.
