Going for a job interview can be a nerve-wracking, stressful experience. And if your dream job is at stake, then you might well spend hours slaving over your answers, determined to make a good impression. But it's not enough for your interviewers to like you - you should also feel confident, from your first impression of them and the company, that this is somewhere you would be happy to work. And often you can tell from that very first meeting whether taking that particular job would be a brilliant experience, or the worst decision you've ever made. Just what are the red flags you should look out for at a job interview, the ones which suggest you should walk away without a backward glance? Read on to find out more... (Picture: Getty Images)

1. Lateness

Everybody gets delayed from time to time - meetings overrun, last-minute deadlines crop up and bad traffic or public transport can easily scupper our need to be punctual. But for some, if the person who's meant to be interviewing you doesn't show up when they're meant to, it's a potential red flag that may leave you asking if you want to work there to begin with - especially if they don't apologise. 'I waited for 10-15 minutes once...no excuses, no apology for being late. I was interviewing at 10pm my time for a job back home, where it was 2pm,' said SnoopThereItIs 88 on Reddit. User ChaosIce agreed: 'As someone else said, a few minutes is fine. More than 15 and I can tell you don’t value my time' (Picture: Getty Images)

2. Saying 'We're like a family here'

It's one thing for your prospective employer to suggest the company you're being interviewed for is a good place to work. But the use of the phrase 'we're like a family here' is enough to make many folks turn and run very fast in the opposite direction. ScarCitySenior 3791 said on Reddit: 'If I go to an interview and they say "we are a family" it puts my hackles up. I already have one dysfunctional family. I don't need another.' Hudwink1987 agreed, saying: 'Family environment = toxic and incompetent management' Also unpopular is calling someone a 'rock star' and the use of the phrase 'we work hard, we play hard'. As one person on Reddit said of the latter: 'Get ready to be expected to spend a bunch of unpaid time outside of work with raging alcoholics' (Picture: Getty Images)

3. Hinting at long working hours

We've all had the experience of having to work late or work unorthodox hours on occasion - and once in a while really won't do anyone any harm, especially not if you're rewarded for it with overtime pay or time off in lieu. But if a job interview hints at the likelihood of long hours on a regular basis, you might want to give it a wide berth. Automatic_Mulberry said on Reddit: 'Last one I encountered was "We need someone to work 10-12 hours a day." I work in IT, and I know after hours and weekend work is part of the deal for many/most jobs in the field. But everyplace that I have ever worked, if I stay late one day, I come in late the next, or take Friday off, or something. I ain't signing up for 50-70 hour weeks' (Picture: Getty Images)

4. Asking personal questions

Being asked 'tell me a bit about yourself' in a job interview is one thing. However, questions which pry a bit too deeply is another matter entirely - and if you're faced with one which might force you to reveal more information than you're comfortable sharing, you might consider whether this is a company you'd be happy to work for. If they ever try to go deep into your personal life outside of just asking what you like to do is a big no-no,' commented Redditor kseenfootage_o934(Picture: Getty Images)

5. Being cagey over salary

You might not expect to be told the exact salary you'll be earning on the spot, but anybody who dodges the subject if it comes up in an interview won't exactly be giving you a favourable view of the job you're applying for. 'No salary or benefits info up front,' said Redditor Jerry_Williams69. 'Good chance both suck if they are hidden behind an interview wall.' Meanwhile, ScarcitySenior3792 added: 'I'll always put in 100% and I take client service very seriously...but I'm not a volunteer and I expect to be paid commensurately for my efforts and my performance' (Picture: Getty Images)

6. A high staff turnover

Most companies will have a certain level of staff turnover, as people move up the career ladder and seek opportunities elsewhere. But if the workers at your prospective new place of employment don't stick around and tend to leave en masse, chances are it's because they weren't happy there - which doesn't bode well for your own prospects. 'When 70% of all the employees there were newer than I was,' said PopDiddlyBop on Reddit. 'And when 95% of the employees in the building were there less than a year' (Picture: Getty Images)

7. Offering you the job on the spot

So you've hit it off with your interviewer, you've aced all the questions - what happens next? Well, in some cases they might even offer you the job immediately - without so much as a second interview - and insist you sign your employment contract there and then. Best news ever, right? Wrong. Because for many folk, a company that is willing to hire you on the spot may well be a little too keen to fill the position, which could indicate high staff turnover, another sign that perhaps it's not the best place to work. As Sauce_Enthusiast points out on Reddit: 'Desperate employers are desperate for a reason and you don’t want to figure that reason out after you hired on.' So if this happens to you, stop and think about whether it's what you really want (Picture: Getty Images/Westend61)