OthereducationEdTech Innovations
3 signs that your future boss might be a bad boss
My mother’s voice still echoes in my memory, a blend of disbelief and maternal concern: “Your new boss didn’t even offer you a glass of water?” she questioned after I recounted the whirlwind interview process with a prestigious beauty brand. I had rushed through nearly a dozen back-to-back meetings, my throat parched, my nerves frayed, and my request for the restroom met with visible annoyance from the very man who would become my manager.In my desperation to secure a coveted title at a household-name company, I ignored these subtle but telling social cues—a decision I would later regret. This experience, what I now call the 'water test,' serves as a powerful metaphor for the fundamental lack of basic courtesy and empathy that often characterizes a toxic leader.The interview process is a two-way street, a delicate dance of mutual assessment where power dynamics are first established. When a potential supervisor fails to exhibit fundamental human consideration—whether it’s failing to offer a drink, arriving late without apology, or scrolling through their phone while you speak—it’s rarely an isolated incident.It’s a prologue. I’ve since spoken with dozens of professionals who, in hindsight, recall similar oversights: the hiring manager who took a personal call mid-conversation, the team lead who openly mocked a previous employer on their resume, or the executive who monologued for forty-five minutes without soliciting a single substantive answer.These behaviors are diagnostic, revealing a leadership style rooted in disinterest, insecurity, or outright disrespect. A boss who makes sarcastic comments about your volunteer work or questions the legitimacy of a language listed on your CV is not just being casually rude; they are signaling a environment where belittlement passes for humor and curiosity is stifled.Similarly, a leader who dominates the conversation, answering their own questions and interrupting your responses, is previewing a top-down management approach where your ideas will be dismissed and collaboration is a foreign concept. The psychological impact of working under such conditions is profound, often leading to decreased morale, burnout, and a corrosive erosion of professional self-worth.While the practical need for a paycheck can compel us to overlook these red flags, recognizing them empowers us. It allows a candidate to either walk away or, if they choose to proceed, enter the role with eyes wide open, armed with strategies to manage up and protect their own well-being from the first day. The interview isn’t just about proving your worth to them; it’s your most critical opportunity to discern whether they are worthy of you.
#career advice
#bad boss
#job interview
#red flags
#management
#workplace culture
#featured
