🚩 Interview Red Flags That Felt Less Like a Job and More Like a Survival Game

So I recently interviewed with a company and folks…

I didn’t interview for a job, I auditioned for Survivor: Corporate Edition.

Sharing this for awareness and personal healing.

🚩 “We’re a family here.”

Important context they casually skipped:

They recently fired a bunch of people.

So…not a family.

More like: “We’re a family until budget meetings.”

🚩 Biweekly office visit (aka endurance test)

Twice a month, everyone MUST comes to the office.

For me, that means:

•	6 hours of driving one way

•	Leaving home at 2-3 AM

•	Reaching office half-alive

•	Leaving late (after team dinner)

•	Reaching home around 4 AM

All for “team bonding”

🚩 Team dinner (self-sponsored edition)

After office, we go out for dinner because:

“We’re a family.”

But:

•	Nothing is covered

•	We split the bill

•	Fun continues till 9–10 PM

So basically:

Pay for your own exhaustion and call it culture.

Apparently sleep deprivation + fuel costs = bonding.

🚩 Casual mention of “Mandatory” overtime availability

They also casually mentioned that there may be mandatory Saturday check-ins once in a while if things get busy.

And that too UNPAID.

🚩 “Work comes first.”

Not “work is important.”

Not “we value dedication.”

Just straight-up clarity:

Work first. Life and family second, I guess.

Honestly? Appreciate the honesty.

🚩 Asked me - “What’s your definition of work-life balance?”

This wasn’t a question.

It was a warning.

Correct answer was probably:

“Life is work. Balance is resignation.”

🚩 Salary

The salary is less than my first job.

Which is impressive because now I:

•	Have experience

•	Have responsibilities

•	Have back pain

Career growth, financial regression ❤️

🚩 Interview scheduled with 1-hour notice

Video call.

Obviously working day.

Immediate availability expected.

Flexibility is mandatory -

just not from the company.