
One of my least favorite parts of job hunting is the interview. It’s nerve wracking to try and guess what the best way to present yourself would be, and I find out doubly nerve wracking because I’m so shy. However, it is an integral part of process, and not just for the employers.
While the point of an interview is for the employers to get to know potential hires and make sure they know what they’re talking about and would be a good addition to the company, potential hires can use the interview to their benefit as well.
You get to find out more about the company, the people you will be working for, and the work environment. You’ll know if the company is going to give you what you want, and if the workplace is pleasant or toxic.
Redditors know this all too well, and are sharing their stories about what red flags during interviews clued them into the fact that the workplace is toxic.
Curious to know more, a Redditor asked:
“What are some red flags in an interview that reveals the job is toxic?"
The Tax Break Ain't Worth It
"In one interview I was enthusiastically assured that overtime wasn't an issue, but if you pick up an extra shift they pay in gift cards so that it saves you on taxes."
"I know they're trying to save themselves employment taxes and time and a half, they're not doing me any favors. I declined their offer."
– Cook_n_sh*t
"The IRS wants a word with you."
– frederick_ungman
Time For A Vacay
"I always ask everyone in the room when their last vacation was."
– GenericHam
"This is a great tip."
– Eastern_Category7875
"Or some variety of how often they take vacation, especially for places with "unlimited" vacation. I interviewed at such a company once, and my interviewer said he never took off and was talking about a coworker who takes off frequently in an annoyed tone."
– acid-runner
Started From The Bottom...And Stayed There
"“We’ll start you at minimum and re-evaluate in a month”"
– Hot_Salad9000
"...which turns into a year."
– frederick_ungman
Reviews Matter
"When I mentioned a company's dismal Glassdoor evaluations, they became so enraged that they ended the interview. Well. I suppose I escaped that danger"
– Alhbf
"I brought up a company's poor Glassdoor reviews during an interview before too (they were all complaining about the owner of a small company). The folks interviewing me looked at each other and said that the owner could be difficult but he's in Mexico most of the time so I'd never have to see him. I accepted the job because I was desperate but sadly that was around the time the owner decided to stay around and get his hands in everything. I was only there for 8 months and I think five people left before I did because of him."
– churrofromspace
Not The Boss You Want
"Had an owner of a restaurant tell me "If you have a problem don't come to me cause you won't like how I fix it" Yeah, keep your job."
– DeftTrack81
"One of the key functions of being a boss is helping the people under you solve a problem. What a douchebag."
– GrifterDingo
High And Mighty
"The interviewer keeps telling you how fortunate you are to be there like they are doing you a favor by giving you the job."
– SuvenPan
"I’m a teacher. My last principal reminded us in every meeting—usually more than once a month—how lucky we are to be working there. My new principal starts every meeting—two per semester—by telling us that we are talented enough to work anywhere and he’s honored that we choose to work with (not for) him. It’s a drastic and beautiful change. My new school mostly was hiring because the district was growing and they simply needed more teachers. My last school was hiring because they had a 50% turnover rate."
– Flaky_Finding_3902
Know The Numbers
"Trying to get you to agree to start before they tell you what you’ll be paid."
– operative87
"I applied to a position out of state and was offered the position during the phone interview. When asked when I could start I replied two weeks, but stated I couldn't accept without knowing how much it paid and having that in an official offer letter/email."
"This dude lost his sh*t and said all huffy puffy "Well, I mean, I don't have the numbers right in front of me, but I guess if you have to know I can get that for you." I said yes, I have to know. He said he'd call back. He never did."
– Krushed_Groove
The Answers Are Obvious
"Once I had an interview where they silently gave me a questionnaire to fill out for 50 questions and just went to another room. The questions were very detailed and stupid, mostly about money. ‘Is your goal to make money in our company?’ (If the answer is ‘yes’, then you didn’t pass). I left before I even finished answering this list. And then I found out that they register employees for an incredibly low official salary, promising to pay most of it at the end of the month, but they delayed money for six months and don’t give it out if the person quit."
"I’m glad I left."
– Lina_Grapes
Cringiest Interview
"I interviewed for one once where the manager spent the whole time asking me the usual questions in between rounds of berating some poor tech support employee on the phone about their payroll software."
"Also any time a hiring manager talks up the company's bonuses and raises to justify their low salary, you'd better believe you're not actually getting either."
– ThreeStacksRadio
Not All Heroes Wear Capes
"I drove about 4 hours to an interview in another city. I told the person interviewing me that I was happy at my current job and wouldn't consider leaving just for the higher pay."
"He stood up and looked over the cubicle walls to make sure no one was around and whispered, "You don't want to work here.""
"I passed on that job but while in the new city I applied for another job where I have been happy for the last 25+ years."
– carefreeguru
What A Real Interview Is All About
"When they don’t realize that you’re interviewing each other."
– love_is_an_action
"After realizing this, I was never nervous again."
– NoodlesDoNot
Not So Occasional
""We expect our employees to be flexible regarding work schedules:"
"Would you be available to work evenings, weekends, and occasionally on holidays with short notice according to our needs?""
– Back2Bach
Be Kind
"When they have nothing good to say about the person whose position they are trying to fill. They aren’t necessarily talking bad about the person- just little digs, almost passive aggressive."
– Laceybabe9669
Be Careful What Group You Invade
"Once you realize that all upper management is family."
– fshnow
"This, or they're all from the same church or community. Nothing like being passed for a promotion by the new guy because he's with the higher ups every Sunday despite being totally incompetent at the actual job. Classic nepotism."
– honinscrave
"Or they are all best friends."
"So when you have to make a complaint against one of them, they don't take it seariously and they dismiss it because they think you are the problem when in fact, they are the ones who are toxic."
"(Yeah, I was in that situation)"
– Frankydoodelidoo
Know Your Worth
"An interviewer tried to convince me to lowball myself after I said what I’d accept as a minimum salary which was in their offer range from the posting. “If we pay you more you wouldn’t get a bonus at the end of the year, and you’d be really upset when everyone else got one.”"
"What he was “able” to offer salary wise was $10k below their posted range."
– -Apocalypse-Cow-
"I'd rather get a salary than a bonus anyway. A salary is guaranteed; a bonus is not."
– LeoMarius
There are more red flags here than most sporting events!
Do you have any to add? Let us know in the comments below.
- People With Little-Known Jobs Break Down What They Actually Do ›
- People Describe The Absolute Worst Job Interview They've Ever Had ›
People Explain What They Say At Least 1,000 Times A Day At Their Job
As an editor, half of my job consists of waiting for writers to finish writing (or re-writing) important copy for me to look over. The edited copy goes to many other departments after mine, meaning I get bugged by the art department asking me for the edited version.
I, in turn, have to bug the writers, asking them when the copy will be ready for me. As a result, something I say at my job a million times a day is, “Hey [Writer], can I have an ETA on that [brochure copy, article, etc.]”
And while I need to say it, I know the writers probably curse my name by now!
I’m not the only one who seems to be saying the same thing a bunch of times over the course of a day. At any job, there may be one word or phrase that is said 1,000 times a day.
This can be anything from “Sounds like a plan” to “Dear God, when will this day end?!”
Redditors have shared what they say 1,000 times a day at their job, and the answers are very relatable.
Curious to find out more, Redditor laladurochka asked:
“What do you say 1000 times a day in your job?”
Pitfalls Of Video Calls
“I think somebody needs to go on mute.”
“Said whilst knowing full well exactly who is the cause of the background noise because their box is yellow.”
– VodkaMargarine
That's All, Folks!
"Sounds good."
– SumKallMeTIM
"Same, and it rarely actually sounds good."
– Former_Team9993
"I love this because there’s no rebuttal for the person on the other end. The conversation is over."
– Tommybrady20
Work Mode
"I was raised christian, but one of my first jobs was working front desk at a Jewish nonprofit. I would answer the phones to screen and direct calls, and I had a very specific greeting that I had to say every time."
"One night I was home visiting my parents, we all sit down for dinner, and my mom asks me to say the blessing. My one brain cell searches for the rote blessing I’ve said thousands of times, we all join hands, and I confidently say “Shalom, Jewish Federation. My name is ___ how can I help you?”"
– chicksonfox
"I used to work at a comic shop/game store and I definitely once answered a call from my dad with 'hi this is gameshop Foamcorps speak--wait HI DAD'"
– foamcorps
Thank You, Next
"I once worked with a voice picking system. You would confirm location, say "next". Confirm amount picked. Say "next". This was the default word, you could change it but i couldn't care. And you would say it hundreds of times per day."
"Fast forward about a year and it started slipping out in the real world. Like having a conversation, saying my bit then finishing with "next" when I was done and wanted to hear what the other person wanted to say."
"Or "Hey aubven, you wanna get pizza for dinner?""
""Yes, next""
"I started changing that voice command for that prompt roughly every fortnight to avoid this continuing."
– aubven
Not Enough Hours In The Day
"“No worries”"
"When really I am worrying about how I’m going to accomplish everything in 7.6 hours."
– mydreamreality
"Alternatively, "it's all good" when asked to do something unnecessarily tedious in addition to everything else going on. It's not all good it never is."
– thefatrabitt
Please Read My Email
""As per my previous email""
"Which is code for READ WHAT I F*CKING SENT YOU YOU ILLITERATE HUMPBACK WHALE"
– sonnenshine
"Don't you hate when you have to do that 10 times to the same person?... and then they reply with "but I already replied to you!""
"No you DIDN'T!!! YOU CLAIMED YOU DIDN'T GET/SEE MY EMAIL THE LAST 10 TIMES!!!"
"I swear people are the worst lol"
– Brambarche
The Restaurant Life
"Hey y'all my name is Tony I'll be taking care of y'all tonight, shall I start you off with two waters?"
– dankvader192
"Sure. Can we get a coke?"
– epic_taco_time
"When I said coke I meant Dr Pepper…"
– NormalCorners
"Heard"
– lilbirdd
Unadulterated Hate
"I hate this place ...."
– tim_worst_isthe_best
"I say it about 20 times a day"
– 2BFrank69
Silent Sufferer
":: Rubs temples :: :: Sighs ::"
– uncheckablefilms
"Same. I don't say a lot. I just suffer in silence."
– OrneryDiplomat
I Wish I Could Say That
"That’s not part of my job responsibilities"
– Ladefrickinda89
Counting Down The Minutes
""is it 5 o clock yet?""
– tracyinge
If Only...
""Living the dream" is my response to anyone asking me how my day is."
– this_barb
"People ask me if I'm "living the dream" I usually respond "probably someone else's""
– zxplatinum
What Do You Do?
"Don't put that in your nose."
– Important_Sprinkles9
"Kindergarten teacher or drug counselor, can't decide."
– Mr_Otingocni
It Hadn't Occurred To Me
"not a 1000 but the most times "have you tried restarting it?""
– Brilliant-Line-2616
"Ah. A mortician, I see."
– Minute-Major7782
It's All Too Much
“F*ck Goddamn Who is this dumbf*ck Jesus Christ Why are we still here”
– PoochusMaximus
Okay, I might actually say that more than ETA!
Do you have any pearls you'd like to share? Let us know in the comments below.
People Explain Which Things They Thought Were Normal As A Kid And Later Realized Were F**ked Up
We are so innocent as children.
Innocent or gullible?
I think when we're young, we tend only to see only the good.
Because that's what instinctually we gravitate towards.
But it's a sad fact to learn later that the good is darker than we realize.
Not everything in childhood is a happy, innocent memory, no matter how badly our parents want to frame it.
The folks on Reddit can certainly attest to that!
Redditor True_Customer_8913 wanted to hear about all the things we saw in a new light once we grew up, so they asked:
"What’s was normal to you as a kid but you later realized how f**ked up it actually was?"
Double Agent
"During the divorce they would try to get information about each other and say the other one was bad for me."
nasandre
"That happened to me too! Once had a judge tell 11-year-old me that my parents were one of the most immature cases he had dealt with, because they were more focused on making each other’s lives difficult than being parents."
TJ_Augustine
In Private
"My father was nice and friendly out in public but was an absolute a**hole to the family at home..."
"Me witnessing my dad being really friendly to everyone in public and then being an absolute raging a**hole at home made me just think 'well I guess everyone is just two-faced and using each other.'"
"All those movies about love are just lies and fantasies, if you're not using someone then what use are they to you? Obviously he doesn't get to use us at home so we aren't useful so we don't get treated well"
"Btw No he wasn't an alcoholic, he wouldn't even allow alcohol in the house because so many people in our family were alcoholics."
MysticalMagicalMilk
Not Funny
"My mom's boyfriend would pick me up by my hair sometimes. It didn't hurt a s**t ton so I never complained, which in turn made him keep doing it. My hair was always in a ponytail so it was easy to grab and do. I told a coworker about it and laughed because it wasn't a terrible memory. But he didn't laugh like I did."
"It was more of a nervous laugh then he says 'that's actually pretty f**ked up.' Then I started to think about all the stuff I actually do remember from my childhood and realized how shi**y it really was. I have two kids and it was never a thought to ever pick them up by their hair."
BUFUByUsF**kYou
Signs
"When I was 7, I came to the realization that if I showed any signs that I was in a good mood around my mother, she would find some reason to yell at me. Even started testing it, would walk into rooms she was in smiling vs not and proved my theory right, so I just stopped smiling, and it didn't take much longer for it to stop being an act."
LegendaryMuffins
In the Garden
"I live in England and my uncle's neighbor had a pet monkey living in a big enclosure in his garden. This was in the early 2000s. I assumed this was totally normal. No idea how he got it. We still know those neighbors and it's just never discussed."
BassEvers
When in England... stay out of trouble.
Be Free
"Not being allowed to feel or express any type anger or sadness."
Exotic-Counter5112
"Unless someone died it was, 'I don't want to hear it. Go to your room, close the door, and bury your face in a pillow until you're done,' or the worse, 'I'll give you something to cry about' followed by whooping."
BigDamnHead
Bye Mike
"Having no food in the house and little to no adult supervision while random men come and go from my mothers room."
"I'm legit impressed I nor my younger brother ended up taken or worse. It was kind of miserable, in hindsight, because some of these guys would come back with some fast food for us and hang out for a bit talking or playing video games. Magic Mike was super cool and I still miss him. :( "
Donequis
Sorry
"Thought it was normal to constantly apologize over even the slightest little f**k-up so I don't get screamed at. I still have this problem today."
CagedKage
"Not me, but my wife. I used to just reassure her that she didn't have to apologize for everything, but that didn't help her to distinguish when it was appropriate or not. Now, when she says 'sorry,' I ask what she's apologizing for, and it seems to help her a little. That being said, she apologized last night when the dog tripped me."
I_used_to_be_hip
Ouch
"I remember my sister had this fake belly button ring she showed my dad. He immediately ripped it out which was quite painful. I asked if he even knew if it was fake and he didn’t. He thought it was real and did that."
Intelligent_Bug6515
Rages
"Parents having blackout rages. Sometimes, I was a brat. Other times, I had done nothing wrong. I just remember being made to feel like a worthless loser, screamed at, and manipulated. Then the next day, they would say 'Sorry sorry sorry' This happened a lot. Eventually, the sorries mean nothing and you begin to feel actually worthless."
DistractedDreaming
Oh how the times do change. We're glad folks made it out of most of these situations!
Do you have anything to get off your chest? Let us know in the comments.
So many people love to go natural.
Nudists have been trying to make us see their ways for decades.
For some, sleeping in the buff can be one of the best ways to sleep.
Sheets cool on the flesh is such a great feeling.
Redditor Etore_the_not_smart wanted to hear from all the people who love to slumber in nothing, so they asked:
"People who sleep naked why do you sleep naked?"
I am a nude sleeper.
It changed my life.
Good Thinking
"My husband sleeps naked."
"I asked him: Dude, what if there’s a fire and we have to just run out???"
"He said: Well, my pajamas won’t catch fire… because I’m naked."
"I had no valid argument. So, there’s that."
upeepsareamazballz
So alas...
"I hate clothes. If I could choose to just never wear clothes that would be ideal. Unfortunately I was born with pasty, ghost skin and I freeze in the winter even in clothes. So alas I will keep wearing them outside the house and get nude as soon as I get home. When I am at the beach with my pasty a** ghost skin, I wear long sleeve rashguards, swim leggings, and a giant sun hat because again, pasty ghost skin. Cute swimsuits are for indoor pools imo!"
crazypurple621
Hold Me
"Home security. Any person who breaks into my house will have to deal with a balding, hairy, naked man running at them and yelling 'I JUST WANT TO CUDDLE!'"
Foraxenathog
"It is one thing to get your a** kicked after you break into a house. It is a completely different thing to get your a** kicked by a naked 40 year old with a beer belly."
Brummy1833
"That's way too terrifying to be honest."
ThickSteak6328
The Slam
"I don’t like the feeling of clothes getting all bunched up as I toss and turn at night like I normally do before my sleep wrestling starts. My wife says that I will suddenly body slam the mattress with my upper torso in the middle of the night at random."
GreyTigerFox
"My wife just calls it a 'Whale Breaching!'"
MaelstromFL
Free
"It makes me feel free and comfy."
Mountain-Safety2099
"If I wear clothes, they get all knotted and twisted up."
PolyGlamourousParsec
Comfy on the skin is a must for most folks, it seems.
Natural
"I was born naked."
JackIbach
"We come into this world screaming, naked, and covered in blood. Play your cards right and it doesn't have to stop there."
moratnz
Everyone Do It!
"It's too hot where I live. Plus it's good for your private parts health, especially for females."
ramzay_
"I always slept naked and turned my ex wife onto sleeping naked when we first met. She never did before. She said she was worried spiders or snakes would crawl into you know where"
"I explained that this wouldn’t happen, and she realized how wonderful sleeping naked is. From what she’s told me, she still does."
"Everyone should sleep naked! Clean sheets against your skin are the best feeling ever!"
RonaldTheGiraffe
It's a Crime
"Wearing clothing in bed just feels... wrong. I'd feel claustrophobic. Plus it's just such a delicious feeling to climb into high thread count cotton sheets and a down comforter - I don't want anything interfering with the sensuous pleasure of it."
Dibiasky
HEAT
"It’s more comfortable. I run hot. I hate the idea of adding more clothes to my laundry. And if someone breaks in, I’ve always imagined a naked hairy man with a hatchet will make them double think their decision. (Hatchet in nightstand)."
Cool_Story_Bro__
The Feels
"Sensory issues. Clothes feel weird on my skin when I’m lying on a mattress. They bunch up, they stick to the skin, they rub against the sheets and twist when I move positions. Plus I get hot very easily. Cannot stand sleeping with clothes on."
SentimentalApathy
"Same. Can’t handle the friction of fabric on fabric. Can’t stand when my clothes get twisted because I toss and turn. If I must wear clothes, the only thing I can somewhat tolerate is a sports bra/stretchy cami and panties."
lollipopfiend123
Crazy
"I'm 42. Till about 5 years ago I thought everyone (well about 95%) of people slept naked. But I was wrong. I think the question should be why do people wear clothes in bed?! Crazy to me."
WholeRevolutionary22
Tangled
"I get tangled in my jammies and sheets."
"It feels nicer."
"I have a naked woman beside me and cuddling feels way better naked."
4angrydragons
Well that settles it, these folks make some good points.
But what do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
People Confess Things Everyone Does But No One Actually Admits To
We've all done some embarrassing things in our lives, and we may do what we can to keep them a secret.
Whether it was something legitimately embarrassing or something like not taking the best care of ourselves, sometimes it's easier to keep those behaviors private than to have a tough or awkward conversation about them.
Curious about others' behaviors, Redditor MrTuxedo1 asked:
"What does everyone do but won’t admit?"
In Great Company
"To talk to themselves when they’re alone."
- Scandroid99
Concealing Passed Gas
"At the beginning of my relationship, I would wait until we walking in heavy traffic and let it go. He heard me once and now every time a bus goes by, he gives me a sideways look."
- FloptimasPloptimas
The Alternate Ending
"To imagine what life would be like with your crush, even as an adult."
- Oppxma
So Haunting
"To lay awake at night, remembering everything that you’ve done wrong in your entire life in 30 seconds, and then just lying there thinking about each and every one of them individually until you’ve got to get up and do something the next day."
- Summertime64
Kitchen Secrets
"To click a pair of tongs together twice whenever they pick a pair up."
- ESlayer12
Complaints Aplenty
"Probably to complain. People say, 'No one likes a complainer,' but everyone I’ve ever met complains about crap."
- Mysterious_Fisher
New Surroundings
"To secretly wish certain people… would move away."
- usercb
Reminiscing
"To think about compliments given by someone years ago."
- SuvenPan
Awake for Hours
"To pretend like they weren’t sleeping when a phone call wakes them up."
- Ddubs111
Nose-Picking
"I remember seeing a while back, one user’s dad apparently had a saying, 'We all pick our noses… it’s what we do afterwards that separates us.'"
- Burgher89
Being Judgmental
"Judge. We all do it. It’s about being intelligent enough to not let that cloud our perspective."
"Also, I mean, sometimes it's okay and even good to judge. Sometimes people are bad for you to be around, and that's important to recognize."
"Being judgmental is only a bad thing if you're overly so and/or do it for bad reasons, imo. But even with that, yeah, we all do it."
- Maleficient_Hawk_318
Past Connections
"To wonder if people that have since long disappeared from your life (or you've only met once or twice) from time to time still think about you."
- Ioakpaa
The Next Great Singer
"I tried to sing, like, really good. When I'm alone, I be hitting those high notes, even though I sound like a dying walrus."
- kumorithecloud
Imaginary Comebacks
"To have (and even win) an argument with a stranger from an encounter three years ago when you didn't say anything at the time."
- mrandymoz
Avoiding Healthcare
"To not go to see the doctor when they know they should."
- SuvenPan
Most of these activities seem mundane, and that's because we've all done them, whether we want to admit to it or not.
But like anything else, there are limits. While it might be okay to reminisce or to explore guilty feelings from time to time, these aren't activities that should take place every night.