Hey, it's Rachel Cook, your modern mentor.

These days, it's feeling like a lot of people are exploring the possibility of a new job.

And the great news is that right now, talent has all the leverage, and it's a company's job

to really woo you.

So, in the spirit of being really picky, let's talk about some red flags you want to watch

out for during an interview so you don't accidentally step into a company that may drain your soul.

My friend Emma recently interviewed for a position with a company she's always admired from afar.

She showed up virtually, excited, well-prepped, and hoping for the best. She called me right

after the interview to debrief, but there was a flatness where the excitement should have been.

She sounded way more, meh, than woo-hoo. I'm still not sure what just happened, she said.

They want me to meet with an executive panel next, but something about the experience is

making me hesitate. Right now, we're living in a buyer's market, meaning companies are having to work

twice as hard to attract talent. And if you are a talent, you've got all the leverage. So if you're on the

hunt for your next gig, you can, and absolutely should, be very choosy.

Of course, there's a lot you won't know about a company until you're already inside it,

but there are some signals you can keep an eye out for during the interview process.

And if, like my friend, you feel your spiky sense tingling, definitely give it a listen.

Here are some red flags worth watching out for. Red flag number one, the interviewer's energy is just off. Whoever is interviewing

you, regardless of their level or title, should be showing up as an ambassador of the company's brand.

People express energy in different ways. I'm not suggesting

that you should expect choreography and jazz hands, but I am saying that you deserve to feel

like the interviewer wants to be there and is fully engaged in your conversation. Have they shown

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