5 tricks for spotting a bad boss during a job interview

A job interview isn't just about what the employer thinks of the applicant. Job applicants have to make sure they feel comfortable with their prospective boss, too.

The most significant cause of workplace unhappiness isn't salary or vacation days, it's having a bad boss.

A bad boss, according to leadership experts, is often unkind, micro-manages employees, is a bad communicator, is absent, doesn't really seem to care about employees' well-being or is guilty of all of the above.

Here are five things to look out for in a job interview that can help you spot a bad boss:

1. You had a bad gut feeling

Psychologist Amy Cooper Hakim, an expert on employer-employee relationships, encourages professionals to pay attention to their innate reaction.

"Go with your gut," she tells. "If you feel uncomfortable during the interview, there's probably a reason why."

"Does she not make direct eye contact when speaking? Does she appear 'too busy' for you?," says Hakim, co-author of "Working With Difficult People."

Managers who come across as arrogant or say things like "that's the way things are done around here" may very well end up being micro-managers or impolite, she says.

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6 Tips To Avoid Job Search Depression

Searching for a new job can be a full-time job, It's a thankless, tiring -- and, yes, depressing task. Searching for roles, filling out applications, networking, tailoring endless versions of your resume to each potential job, interviewing, handling rejections the entire process can be so overwhelming and can leave you feeling unwanted, dejected and sad.

It's understandable; with the loss of a job, many people feel like they've lost control. And, in many cases, they've lost something that they loved, that gave them some fulfillment and purpose, and that can interfere with self-esteem and confidence. Searching for a job is also a very solitary process, so on top of that, there's the potential for isolation.

Be patient

Staying emotionally healthy during such a turbulent time requires patience, positivity and stamina, Cavanaugh says.

First and foremost, to have patience with the process and make sure your expectations are realistic. Your entire professional life right now is focused on finding a new job, but the recruiters, hiring managers, people in your network. They aren't on the same timeline you are. Try to strike the balance between timely follow-up and constant pestering, because you can risk alienating people.

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Find A New Job Faster By Changing Your Attitude

Successfully landing a new job is a matter of using the right techniques combined with a good attitude. One without the other affects your job search prospects more than you might realize. A good attitude is hard to beat and hiring managers can sense when candidates have one.

It’s only human to experience the ups and downs of a job search that at times can impact the way your feel about yourself, especially if you have been rejected numerous times in a row. The difference between those who receive offers and those who continue searching is not so much their skill sets but the way they approach problems in life.

Practicing interview questions and taking the time to write your resume are important parts of your search that need attention. Yet working on your attitude is often taken for granted. A good attitude just as a good interview takes time and practice. You’ll likely be rejected at some point when changing jobs but keeping a positive attitude towards rejection will help you overcome the negative aspects.

When you fear rejection, you tend to avoid taking risks which leads to keeping you stuck in a job that causes pain rather than joy. If you look through rejection and see it as a learning experience it can help you improve your communication skills rather than cast personal doubts on your value.

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The 40 Most Frequently Asked Job Interview Questions

Job interviews can be stressful. The best way to prepare for a job interview is to anticipate and prepare for the questions you are most likely to be asked.

So instead of stumbling through a job interview trying to answer questions you didn’t anticipate, check out this list of frequently asked job interview questions so that you can practice articulate and convincing responses to each one of them.

Introductory Questions

The job interview will probably start off with some general introductory questions, such as:

• Can you tell me a little about yourself?
• What do you know about our company?
• How did you hear about this job?
• What motivates you?

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