When employees end up being bad hires, it can often be traced back to the interview. Seemingly small, inconsequential behaviors can be a predictor of bigger issues down the line. Avoid bad hires by knowing what to watch out for – check out the red flags you should look for when interviewing candidates:
Not Being Prepared
A candidate who doesn’t put their all into making a great first impression at an interview, when it is of the utmost importance, is very unlikely to step it up once hired. Pay careful attention to how prepared candidates seem. If they show up to the interview late, have a sloppy or overly casual appearance, or clearly haven’t researched the company, that lack of preparation will likely show itself in their work performance.
Not Having Specific Examples
Some candidates have a knack for saying all the right things to impress hiring managers but don’t actually follow through once hired. Avoid this by requesting specific examples for any claims candidates make about their skills or past work accomplishments. Being unable to give specific, detailed explanations may be a sign that they are exaggerating their abilities.
Negative Attitude
Pay close attention to the tone candidates take when discussing their work history, in particular regarding why they want to change jobs. While many candidates may, unfortunately, have had to deal with toxic workplace behavior, they should still be able to talk about their work history objectively. If they have a negative attitude about their current or previous employers, it could be a sign of a lack of emotional intelligence or professionalism.
Not Giving Credit
Obviously, job interviews are intended for candidates to talk about their accomplishments but be on the lookout for those who brag about their effort and don’t give others credit. For most projects or tasks, at least some collaboration is necessary, so not ever acknowledging their colleagues’ input could potentially be indicative of them having issues working as part of a team.
Doesn’t Ask Questions
When you open up the conversation to give the candidate a chance to ask questions, it’s a red flag if they don’t have anything to bring up. It could mean they aren’t interested in the position enough to go further in-depth about it. Even if they do want the job, not asking questions shows a lack of engagement in the conversation and could be a sign they wouldn’t be assertive or do more than the bare minimum if hired.
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