If you’ve ever worked for a boss who makes Miranda Priestly from “Devil Wears Prada” look like a dream, you know that having a good relationship with your boss is crucial. When Gallup surveyed U.S. adults, they found that 50 percent of employees left their jobs “to get away from their manager.” When you are applying for jobs, it is your job to evaluate the interviewer just as much as he is evaluating you.
If you are getting bad vibes from your boss-to-be it is a sign that, even if the role and company seem perfect, it may not be meant to be. It might not be as obvious as being told you have “no style or sense of fashion” and told “that’s all” in the middle of your sentence, but there are some less noticeable signs that you’d be working for a “bad boss.”
They are late:
Maybe a meeting ran a few minutes late, there was traffic, or there was a line for the printer when he went to print your resume. Things happen, but if your interviewer is 10 to 15 minutes late or more, it’s a sign that he isn’t respectful of your time. “This may be an indicator that the boss errs on the egotistical side and lacks common courtesy manners. The mentality is that the boss will start when they are ready, not necessarily when everyone else is,” says Dana Case, director of operations at the Calabasas-based small business resource MyCorporation.com.
They don’t listen:
If you feel like you are being ignored, it’s not a good sign. Does your interviewer stare absentmindedly out the window while you’re talking, check her watch or phone, seem distracted, interrupt you, look bored, or seem to have no idea what you just told them? “These signs of impatience and disrespect should be expected if you accept the job,” says Case.
They are extremely negative:
If the interviewer says something negative about the company, the last person who held the role, their coworkers, or the industry, take it as a sign that something isn’t right. Your potential boss might just be a negative person or be having a bad day, but they may also be telling you helpful information about the company and team. Perhaps it’s not a good person to work for or a good place to work. “If they get angry or show any negative emotions it may be a warning sign that it’s going to get a lot worse,” says Romy Newman, president and co-founder of the New York City-based career resource Fairygodboss. “If they can’t keep their emotions in check for a 30-minute or one-hour interview, it’s likely that they won’t be keeping them in check during a long work day,” Newman says.
They seem self-centered:
You are the one being interviewed so the interviewer should care about what you have to say. “If whoever you’re interviewing with only talks about themselves or redirects every conversation to themselves this may be a warning sign. Take note if they talk about their accomplishments more than they ask about yours,” says Newman. The interviewer should be more concerned with learning if you are a good fit than showing off. “A boss who constantly needs their ego stroked is not someone you want to work for. Rather than focusing on and supporting the team, they’ll constantly be seeking reassurance and praise for everything they do,” says Newman.
They don’t seem well-liked:
Get to the interview five to 10 minutes early and observe as much as you can about the office culture while you wait. How are people interacting? Do people generally seem happy and collaborative or miserable and competitive? If you get the chance, observe how your interviewer interacts with his direct reports. “It is a clear reflection on how your prospective boss runs their organization and is clear foreshadowing on what to expect,” says Nick H. Kamboj, CEO of the Chicago-based business school prep company Aston & James LLC and a former guest lecturer at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
They leave you feeling icky:
If you walk out of the interview and have doubts about the role, company, or your potential boss, trust your gut. “True leaders empower everyone around them, so if you walk away from the interview feeling exhausted or negative that’s a bad sign,” says Newman. “First impressions can sometimes be misleading so if you’re unsure, stick it out and go back for another interview. But if you leave and feel like something is wrong, you’re probably right.”
