What Job Interviews Really Reveal — And How to Spot a Bad Company
💼 _This is an updated and slightly more sarcastic version of a post I originally shared on LinkedIn back in October 2017. Over the years, I’ve been on enough interviews to confirm one thing: interviews are like dating—if the first impression is terrible, you probably shouldn’t sign a long-term contract. Given this is Labor day, I thought it was a good idea to update this post.
🛣️ Job Interviews: A Two-Way Street (and Sometimes a Comedy Show)
Job interviews are stressful. You dress your best, rehearse your answers, and spend the car ride over giving yourself a pep talk that sounds suspiciously like you’re about to enter a boxing ring.
And yet, many of us forget something important: you are also interviewing the company.
Yes, they’re judging whether you’re “worthy.” But you’re also deciding whether you want to spend 40+ hours a week with these people… potentially until one of you retires, gets promoted, or escapes to a cabin in the woods.
I learned this lesson in the most awkward way possible.
🎭 The Interview From the Twilight Zone
Several years ago, I went to interview for a Systems Manager role at a healthcare software company.
It was a classic New England downpour, but I showed up 10 minutes early. Because that’s what professionals do.
I checked in. I waited.
Ten minutes.
Twenty minutes.
Finally, an HR rep rushed in, drenched from the rain, and apologized. (Apparently, water falling from the sky had completely derailed the corporate calendar.)
We go to a conference room. She fumbles with a folder and starts reviewing a résumé—I can see the name is NOT MINE.
The folder said “Systems Administrator” and had no other papers inside.
Strike one.
We waited 15 more minutes for the first interviewer. He arrived with… nothing. No résumé, no notes, no clue.
Then HR introduced me by the wrong name.
Strike two.
I corrected her, handed over my extra copy of my résumé (pro tip: always bring one), and the manager began the “interview” by… not asking me a single question. He just blinked at me, waiting for me to perform like a TED Talk on demand.
At this point, I’m thinking:
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They don’t know who I am.
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They don’t know why I’m here.
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I should have stayed home and made pancakes. 🥞
Then the technical interviewer comes in. His opening line:
“Our systems are a disaster… but there’s nothing we can do. That’s just how it is.”
Strike three.
I looked at the HR rep and politely said:
“I don’t believe this company or position is the right fit for me.”
Then I walked out, into the rain, completely drenched but spiritually free.
🚩 What I Learned (and What You Should Watch For)
That interview taught me that interviews are not just about you proving yourself to them. They’re also a window into the company’s culture.
If you see these red flags, consider running—preferably before the rain starts. Keep in mind, I have had ALL of these happen to me:
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⏰ They are late – Life happens, but if a company treats the interview like it’s optional, imagine how they’ll treat your work-life balance. “Sorry you missed your kid’s birthday party… TPS reports don’t wait!”
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📄 They are unprepared – If they can’t remember who you are or why you’re there, they probably run the company with the same “winging it” philosophy.
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🕶️ They are unprofessional – I’ve been to interviews where someone showed up in a Hawaiian shirt unbuttoned to mid-chest. Unless you’re applying to be a cruise director, this is a red flag.
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📵 Phone interview no-shows – Nothing says “we value your time” like leaving you on hold staring at your own reflection for 30 minutes.
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🎤 They only ask generic questions – If the entire interview feels like they Googled “top 10 interview questions” five minutes before you arrived, that tells you how creative (or not) they are.
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🌐 Their social media tells the story – Check your interviewers on LinkedIn. If all they post are corporate press releases and nothing that shows thought leadership or industry awareness, the culture might be as stagnant as their feed.
🌟 The Takeaway
The job hunt is stressful, but remember:
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You are not just trying to get a job.
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You are trying to find a place where you can thrive.
A bad interview can actually be a gift. It’s the universe saying:
“You just dodged a full-time headache.”
Walk away. Dry off. And save your energy for the company that deserves you.