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Employment

7 signs of a bad fit. Interview Guide for candidates.

Last 5 years I spent too much time on interviews with potential companies. Changing a job 3 times often means having more than 200 interviews and talks with founders.
Why so often? Different expectations often lead to short contracts or initiation of the firing process.

Today, I spent more time on reflecting my feelings, impressions and emotions.
Tomorrow, I will decline an offer with more than 2 points from the list, because I had too many examples of what it leads to.

The 7 sighs below are more related to small companies where you speak with the CEO and top managers. These people giving everybody a direction for corporate culture, so this experience is representative.

1. Speaking with a formal robot.

A conversation with your future manager should be warm and friendly. We are people, we smile and do small talks. It can also be an indicator of how a manager utilises stress in the work conditions. However, everyone can have a bad day, try to catch if that’s a case.

2. Showing off, making cheap impressions.

“I know that guy and that guy, I know that VC, the next funding round is in our pocket. “
I have seen this on interviews twice and both times it was not true. Usually, people with wide network are not trying to impress candidates.

3. Extreme conspiracy. Fear of stealing ideas.

This usually means that the manager is most likely inexperienced in product development and is afraid to hear honest feedback about product and idea.

Great Ideas Are Worthless Without Strong Execution

A solid entrepreneur cannot be afraid of talking about a product.


4. You feel stressed on the interview.

There are some exceptions: code exercises and whiteboard challenges are helping an employer to define how a candidate can work under time pressure.

If that’s not a case, but you still feel pressure and awkwardness, in a working environment it will only grow.

5. Bullshitting and poor interview structure.

If employer is jumping from topic to topic and is not able to make a wrap-up and conclude you won’t likely have meaningful meetings in the future.
Well, again, the honest interviewer would admit if he/she didn’t have enough time for preparation.

6. You quickly realise the company works on weekends.

Regardless of our mindset, constant working over weekends and evenings leads to burnout. There are some exceptions though: you are willing to help the company pass a deadline or launch an important release.

7. The bad feeling after a call and meeting.

Something was wrong. But what exactly? We read people better than we think. Listen to yourself. If the call is finished and you’re trying to figure out what was wrong it’s a bad sign.


In conclusion

The first impression matters a lot and both candidate and employer might feel awkward and even frustrated. Don’t seek perfection, give a smile first, be always friendly and maybe, your interviewer isn’t so strict? ?

Your call just finished. What’s your feeling?