12 things you should look out for in a job interview before accepting an offer

younger liza interview
Sometimes a job interview will make it clear the job is not one you want. TV Land

Sometimes, a job interview can be full of subtle signs that you shouldn't actually take that job.

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Thousands of Reddit users responded to the question, "What are subtle red flags at a job interview that say, "Working here would suck?"

Many of their answers are the types of things you should definitely watch out for next time you're looking for a job. If the interviewer has absolutely no concept of work-life balance, for example, you probably don't want to work there.

INSIDER cannot independently verify any of the stories, but they are good to keep in mind during your next interview.

Here are 14 subtle things you might notice in a job interview that should make you second-guess wanting to work there.

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1. They say there will be "plenty of opportunity for overtime."

tired businesswoman
That could mean you'll be staying late a lot. Shutterstock

"'There will be plenty of opportunity for overtime' means they will ask you to stay late." - FerrisMcFly

2. They ask for personal, irrelevant information.

shoshana job interview girls
There are some questions you aren't required to answer. HBO

"Was interviewing for a job as a receptionist and they wanted a list of any medicine I took at the interview. Umm. No." - hrmhrh

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3. They mention employees don't tend to stay very long.

meryl streep devil wears prada
Definitely a red flag. 20th Century Fox

"When they complain about the high turnover rate in the interview, there are usually good reasons why they can't retain employees." - owlswithteeth

4. The employees all look bummed out.

superstore workers
Pay attention to the people who already work there. NBC Universal

"When everyone looks glum — no smiling, laughing, interaction among employees." - lenachristina

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5. The interviewer offers you the job but tells you not to work there.

dwight job interview jim the office
Believe them. NBCUniversal

"I interviewed at one place where the guy interviewing me said, 'Look, I like you. You're a smart kid. Don't work here. If you want the job, it's yours though.'" - BrokenLavaLamp

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6. They don't ask you anything about yourself.

mindy kahling project interview
If they barely give you a chance to talk, that's a bad sign. FOX

"If it's not a two-way conversation. Like, I once interviewed with a president of a company and he spent the entire hour talking about himself. Not the company, not the team I would be joining, just him. And he was very pleased.

During the same interview, he also mentioned that when he was younger he totaled his car on the way to a meeting, but he acted like it never happened, because work was the only thing that mattered. The underlying message was, 'I don't give a s--t about you. Get me my coin, or I'll cut your pay.' (Which he did for the slightest things like showing up two minutes late in an epic snowstorm.)" - PeligrosaPistola

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7. They say, "we work hard and we play hard."

Happy Office
It might not actually be a good thing. The Office/NBC

"'We work hard and we play hard.'

Translation: Minimum of 10 hours of overtime a week, and you're expected to commiserate with your coworkers over drinks after work on Friday... You pay your own way. You don't show up, that looks bad." - Astramancer_

8. They evade questions about pay, hours, or growth opportunities.

job interview gilmore girls gq netflix
Not a good sign. Netflix

"When they cant give a straight honest answer about wages, hours, or opportunities to be promoted. Some employers get upset when you ask about it, but it is the entire reason for a job." - dmack0755

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9. There's no concept of work-life balance.

woman stressed work
You don't want to work somewhere with terrible work-life balance. Shutterstock/TORWAISTUDIO

"When I asked the interviewer how the work/life balance is, they said, 'I don't understand what you mean.'" - Like54short

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10. They ask if you're willing to do things that aren't in the job description.

horrible bosses job interview
Watch out for this. Warner Bros. Television

"'Are you willing to work a lot for a while until we get more people hired and trained up? We're a little short-staffed at the moment.'

And pretty much any other question that starts with 'are you willing to...' and ends with something most people in their right minds wouldn't be readily willing to do." - fringeparadox

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11. The interviewer bashes the person you're replacing.

rory job interview
It's probably not a healthy office environment. Netflix

"From my own experience, when the interviewer starts talking s--t about the person you're replacing. That store was filled with women who were mostly back-stabbing gossips. Nothing I did was right. After only working five days over two weeks, I 'wasn't learning fast enough.' I never thought I'd be relieved to be fired." - trust_my_shadow

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12. They say they won't train you.

2 broke girls kat dennings
"Just watch the others." Warner Bros. Television

"My first job interview ever, I asked about how I would know where everything is. His response? 'Just watch the others. We don’t train.' I hate that. Just tell me so when I'm asked to go get or make something, I don't look dumb in front of the customers." - iBeFloe

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