How to spot a toxic boss at the interview stage

“The biggest ‘red flag’ to look out for when identifying a toxic boss is someone who lacks self-awareness.”

Navigating a new workplace is difficult at the best of times. So when those you report to are hostile, calculating and blatantly ‘toxic’, going to work can begin to feel like a losing mental battle. But in some cases, a toxic boss isn’t obvious from the get-go.

Often these kinds of people are great at manipulation, at making you feel hopeful for a happy and successful career. Being able to spot those subtle signs of toxicity from the start can save you time, heartache and – in the bad cases – a whole lot of money spent on therapy sessions.

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Australian leadership expert and author of Vertical Growth, Michael Bunting, has built a career teaching companies how to foster psychological safety, mental well-being and healthy development in the workplace. Below, he shares some advice on how to spot a toxic boss at the interview stage.

What are some of the signs to look out for when identifying a toxic boss?

The biggest ‘red flag’ to look out for when identifying a toxic boss is someone who lacks self-awareness. Everyone has weaknesses and things they could improve on; however, a toxic manager is often heavily in denial about their own faults, and therefore unable to do the essential work needed to grow and improve. Only by first recognising and acknowledging their own self-defeating patterns can they adopt a ‘vertical growth’ mindset and reach their full potential as a leader.

A toxic boss is also often stuck in ‘image management’. Image management refers to any activities that are driven by ego and focused on making themselves look good, or potentially passing the blame for mistakes to their subordinates. These behaviours include denial, deflection, defence, gossiping, politics, scapegoating and saving face. If you see any of these signs present in your boss or manager, it’s clear that you’re dealing with someone who lacks self-awareness and has more internal work to do.

Are there ways we can spot a toxic boss at the interview stage?

Yes, there are several ways you can spot a toxic boss at the interview stage. One of the key giveaways is if they interrupt you during the interview, or spend the majority of the discussion speaking about their company and what they need from employees. A good interviewer should want to get to know you, what your interests and long-term goals are and how you could fit into the company. So, if they spend more time talking at you, rather than listening to what you have to say… that’s already a bad sign.

Another giveaway is if they ask any inappropriate questions. Of course, it’s illegal these days to ask if a candidate is pregnant or to enquire about marital status. I’ve also heard of situations where an interviewer has asked whether a candidate has a positive relationship with their parents, or asked for details about a person’s childhood.

If anything that’s said during the interview phase feels too personal… that’s a sign the person asking the question doesn’t know how to respect boundaries in the workplace, which will become an issue for you down the track if you choose to take on the role.

How should we approach the situation if we notice these signs at the interview stage?

If you notice any of these signs at the interview stage, it’s very important to remain calm and focused. If you feel like the interview is being derailed, perhaps practice gently steering the discussion back to a more relevant topic. There’s not too much you can do during the interview phase, except for taking note of any red flags if you see them… afterwards, you can make a more informed decision about whether to take the role or not (depending on whether it’s offered to you, of course).

Are there specific phrases that indicate ‘toxicity’ from a potential employer?

… I would recommend that you try and read between the lines for everything that’s said during the interview phase. For example, a manager that says “We have a work hard, play hard culture” will have high expectations and place lots of demands on their employees, sometimes stretching them to their limits.

On the flip side, for someone who is keen to work really hard and is hungry for career progression, a ‘work hard, play hard’ culture might be a good thing. It’s all about finding a company with work culture and ethos that aligns with your goals.

What are your best tips interview for interview success?

Always dress professionally for the interview, even if you’re interviewing for a laid-back tech company with a relaxed dress code. You only get one chance to make a good first impression.

Potential employers are looking for solutions-orientated people, so in your interview preparation phase, think about a few scenarios at work where you’ve faced challenges and how you overcame them, and then think about the key learnings from these experiences. Being able to concisely articulate these scenarios and your key learnings in an interview will put you ahead of the other candidates.

Before the interview, make sure you do as much research on the company as possible. Then, during the interview, you can talk about the specific values of that company, and how they align with your own goals and values. For example, if you’re interviewing for your dream role at a company that prioritises innovation, be sure to talk about your own interest in innovation during the interview.

Don’t use the word ‘passion’. It’s overused, and employers just roll their eyes when they hear it these days. Instead, find other ways of expressing your interest in certain topics.

For more on navigating a toxic workplace, head here.