Seven Job Interview Red Flags You Need to Recognize Before Accepting an Offer

For all the effort it takes to find a job in the sports industry, the workplace you land with needs to be the right fit. Carol in Washington is having that issue and seeking advice from the WorkInSports Podcast:

"Hi Brian, I’m 25 and have had two jobs in the sports industry so far. Both have been a nightmare. I’m not losing hope, but I’m wondering how I could have sniffed out these bad opportunities before accepting the job. It really sucks to put a miserable year in at a place and then realize it’s a terrible fit and a wasted step. Help. I don’t want to make the same mistake again."

How to Spot a Toxic Workplace Before Taking a Job

After interviewing for any job, you need to ask yourself questions if you get an offer to determine whether or not you mesh well with a potential employer. These questions include:

• Does the salary meet your expectations?
• Do you like and respect your potential co-workers/supervisor?
• Are there opportunities for growth in the organization?

Beyond weighing the pros and cons of joining a company based on your expectations, several interview red flags can signal that a work environment is not a good fit for you. If any of these seven issues pop up during the interview stage, you may want to reconsider taking the job:

1. Pressure to make a quick decision: likely to prevent you from negotiating your salary for fear they'll go with someone else.
2. Negative talk about co-workers or previous employees: they will probably do the same to you.
3. Vague or inconsistent answers to your questions: signs that the organization’s priorities don’t align across departments.
4. An excessive number of interviews: the organization may be indecisive.
5. Moving around the interview schedule: the company is probably disorganized.
6. Distracted during the interview: they will likely treat you the same way during one-on-one meetings.
7. Only interested in your previous experience: they don’t want to train you to grow in the position.

Enjoy the full episode of the WorkInSports Podcast to learn how to spot these interview red flags. Subscribe to the podcast for more sports career advice, and check out additional content on our YouTube channel!