Working with my worst boss from hell, aka Lady Voldemort, was a horrendous experience I never wish to repeat. When I finally quit out of sheer exhaustion, I kicked myself for accepting the job in the first place. The warning signs were present right at the interview. Signs don’t get much clearer than a colleague telling me forthrightly: “I would love to have you work here, but she’s really awful.”
There were other red flags as well. When I asked what Lady Voldemort’s management style was like, I noticed a nervous silence from the hiring committee. Lady Voldemort rolled her eyes and struggled to come up with an answer.
Almost no interviewer will tell you outright that a workplace is toxic and the boss tyrannical. However, the subtle signs of a dysfunctional workplace are almost always there—you just have to know what to watch out for. Here are some big red flags that something is off in a workplace:
If there appears to be confusion about what you are supposed to do, this could be a sign that you are stepping into a poorly-defined role or chaotic workplace
• The hiring manager talks badly or gossips about the employees. This tells you that there is a poor work culture that disrespects employees.
• There is a lack of clarity about the job, e.g. different interviewers tell you conflicting information about your responsibilities, or you are asked questions inconsistent with the job ad. If there appears to be confusion about what you are supposed to do, this could be a sign that you are stepping into a poorly-defined role or a chaotic workplace.
• The interviewer does not know what position you are interviewing for. This could be a sign of an unprofessional, or overworked environment where interviewers are not prepped properly.
• The interviewer mentions that there’s been a lot of turnover lately. This is almost always a very bad sign!
• The interview is cagey about the salary range.
• The employees appear exhausted, unhappy or angry to be on the job. You sense a negative vibe in the atmosphere.
• The phrase “We’re like a family here.” Pay attention to other red flags to make sure that this isn’t a dysfunctional workplace where people are expected to work many overtime hours.
Constantly rescheduling of the interview date points to possible chaos…as well as lack of respect for you and your time
• Phrases like “Work hard play hard,” “fast paced,” “high through-put,” “dynamic,” and “a challenge.” These could all be code for stress, stress, and stress. You might even spot these phrases in a job ad.
• When you ask about the work culture, the employees take a while to answer and then give some carefully couched words. For instance, if pressed, I would have diplomatically described Lady Voldemort as “detailed and direct.” It would have taken me a few extra seconds to come up with these adjectives. Hence, paying attention to the nonverbals is vital.
• Getting hired too quickly can be a red flag because it may be a sign that the last employee left in a hurry or that the organization is in chaos.
• Not being allowed to talk to other employees. What exactly are they hiding?
• Constant rescheduling of the interview date points to possible chaos and disorganization as well as a lack of respect for you and your time.
• Sexist, racist, ageist, or otherwise offensive comments are big red flags that tell you clearly what kind of work culture you will be dealing with.
• Being asked to attend an excessive number of interviews might be an indicator that the organization is indecisive, chaotic or unrealistic in seeking the perfect candidate.
I learned never to talk myself into a job
• Pressure to accept the job—this is a bullying tactic that some companies use to force your hand. It gives you an indicator of the poor work culture from the start.
One gift that Lady Voldemort bequeathed to me is that I learned NEVER to talk myself into a job. My mistake in accepting her job offer was not missing the red flags—my error was in knowing that something was off yet convincing myself that I could make it work. This was part of my innocence and naivete back then: I genuinely believed that I could get along with anybody because I was a nice person.
My youthful thinking has been replaced by hard-earned experience about red flags at the interview. Hence, I now encourage people to trust their gut. If something feels off, pay attention to your instincts and don’t fall victim to Lady Voldemort 2.0.
Anne Chan is a career consultant and licensed California psychotherapist. She specializes in helping people find happiness in their careers and lives. You can reach her at an*********@***il.com
© Anne Chan, 2025
