Recruiter warns ‘red flag’ job interview question is ‘not normal’

Recruiters have warned against a job interview question that you should keep an eye out for, as it's a huge red flag.

Now, we all know that navigating the employment sphere can be difficult in this day and age - from group interviews to questions set to catch you out, there's a lot to think about.

Not to mention the secret tests that you have no idea are even happening to identify the best candidates, including the 'coffee cup' test and 'water test'.

One CEO said they're 'always looking for' whether the person being interviewed 'wants to take their empty cup back to the kitchen' at the end, while another said that accepting a glass of water shows you're 'confident in the workplace environment'.

It's easy to forget, with all of this going on, that while they're looking out for potential problems with you as an employee, you should also be taking the opportunity to weed out any red flags in them as an employer and make sure the job is the right fit for you.

It's no secret that job interviews are a difficult thing to navigate (Getty Stock Image)

One Australian jobseeker took to Reddit to detail their experience and get advice from others on the bizarre question they were asked.

The candidate revealed that during their interview, they were asked whether they're 'willing to work extra uncompensated hours' - essentially, working overtime without being paid.

The person wrote: "I said I'm willing to within reason and if I feel like my salary is justified."

They recalled: "'They were like, "hmm, okay". I felt like I was smashing the interview up until that point, but the atmosphere changed after I answered."

And it wasn't long before people began weighing in with their own opinions, including recruiters who labelled the query as a huge red flag.

One recruiter wrote: "Not normal at all. I work with a lot of hiring managers and try to coach them on fair questions - and then they go ask something like this. Insane."

While a second added: "'I assume most corporate roles expect some unpaid overtime. But if they're openly asking about it in the interview, that's a bad sign - it means they plan to rely on it."

Have you ever experienced this red flag? (Getty Stock Image)

Another social media user suggested: "'Ask why extra uncompensated hours are necessary. Is the business under-resourced or unable to prioritise? Flip it back on them."

While someone else who found themselves in a similar situation warned: "'They owned my weekends. And if you didn't do it, you were labelled not a team player."

And another advised: "Say you're willing to work extra hours on occasion if absolutely necessary. While you wouldn't expect additional pay, say you'd expect time in lieu when appropriate."

Another person brutally recalled: 'I've walked out mid-interview on something similar. All he wanted to know was how many unpaid hours I'd do and whether I had kids or hobbies outside of work. I just stood up and left."

So, there we have it - next time you head into a job interview, don't ignore the red flags!