Candidate Red Flags You Can’t Ignore in an Interview

Episode Overview

Bad hires are expensive, costing companies upwards of $50,000 each. But beyond the financial hit, they disrupt team morale, stall productivity, and can damage your culture from the inside out. And here’s the kicker: 74% of employers admit they’ve hired the wrong person.

In this episode, we’re breaking down 17 red flags every hiring manager should watch for—before it’s too late. From candidates who arrive late or dodge tough questions to more subtle signs like vague references or deflecting past mistakes, these warning signals are often easy to overlook but hard to recover from.

You’ll learn:

• How to spot signs of deeper issues hiding in plain sight
• When to dig deeper and how to do it without turning the interview into an interrogation
• Why some red flags (like not owning past failures) should instantly put you on alert
• Innovative ways to separate confidence from arrogance
• What to ask instead when something feels “off”

Whether you’re hiring for your first role or your fiftieth, these insights will sharpen your instincts, improve your process, and help you build a stronger, more cohesive team.