6 Interview Red Flags That Say "Run Away!"

• The Find: It's natural to feel elated when you make it through a first interview and are invited back for a second, but don't lose your head and miss these six danger signs that the job may not be for you.
• The Source: The BusinessWeek Managing blog.

1. Asking for references too early: your perspective employer is "sending a signal that the valuable time of your reference-givers is not nearly as valuable as the time that the company would waste in interviewing you before checking up on you. Your cue to bail."
2. Asking for a credit check or social security number too early: "This type of batch processing shouts, 'Get in line to genuflect.' Keep looking."
3. Online tests or questionnaires before any human contact: "'Prove to us that you're worth our time' is not the message that a talent-aware employer sends to the talented people" it' trying to hire.
4. Unreasonably short notice to travel for the interview: It's exciting to be flown somewhere cool for an interview, but don't forget to pause and ask whether the employer took your schedule into consideration. If they don't now, they certainly won't later.
5. You can't meet the team before an offer is extended: "You need to meet your co-workers. Period."
6. All communication goes through the headhunter or HR rep: "If you're really interested in a job and have a question for your prospective manager, the manager absolutely needs to take that call. If you can't get the manager's attention now, what makes you think you'll be able to when you work there?"

The Question: Any other interview red flags to beware of?

(Image of run away cartoon by hunterseakerhk, CC 2.0)