The interview is the last point where leaving is free.
The signals that matter
- Nobody can say clearly who you report to
- No answer to "what does good look like at ninety days"
- The role has turned over twice in two years
- Pressure to accept within 24 hours
- Every interviewer describes the culture differently
- No one can explain how decisions are recorded
The remote-specific one
If a company cannot describe its async practices concretely, remote there will mean being on video calls all day in an inconvenient timezone. Ask for last week's meeting count.
Trust the pattern, not one instance
Any single flag can have an innocent explanation. Three together rarely do.
Common questions
Is a fast hiring process a red flag?
Fast is fine. Pressure to accept without time to consider is not.
Should I ask why the previous person left?
Yes. The answer, and how comfortable they are giving it, are both informative.