Red flag in interview?

[Zig27]

I had an interview today at a former employer where I have been permanent and temped. The manager said the job is a new role. The job isn't a new role as I did it before but they brought the job back after making it redundant after a few years and renamed the job with some additional duties. The manager even knew I did this job before as they were there when I was there before. The manager also said you would be supporting 7 other members of staff with admin yet before it was supporting 4 others - not mentioned in the job description.

They said it is a learning curve and that staff are not to overload with work which I smirked. When I did the job before it could be pressurising and I did say I would put boundaries in place - I don't know if they see this as obstructive. When I was there a few months ago temping a new member of staff was trying to give me their work to do.

The manager said people need to speak up about excessive workloads. If I am honest I am put off as I am currently temping elsewhere and the temp job even though its an extra 25 minutes to travel than the interview job. The pay would be less but there is no stress involved in the job and the staff are friendly. They are going to let candidates know the outcome of the interview on Monday. I don't know if I should accept it if offered.

I think you dont need to worry about it til offered but from what youve posted it doesnt sound like you'd be a good fit.

You smirked and said something that they may have seen as obstructive? I’m not sure why you went for the interview tbh as it sounds like you don’t really want the job at all.
If they offer it to you, I would politely decline.

Looks like you absolutely should not take the job if offered!

Sounds like you were waving the red flags I doubt you'll get offered it, don't waste your weekend thinking about it

So a job which hasn't been done for a few years and has additional
duties? That is a new role.

They said it is a learning curve and that staff are not to overload with work which I smirked.

I very much doubt you'll get he job, you come across as a bit "know it all" even though there have been several years since you did that role and the role has changed.

I wouldn't want the job if they begged me to take it.
There's a reason you smirked.
You know what the organisation is like. You know you could do the work. You know you don't want the job. You know you can't trust what they say.

Why are people so rude on here? I'm trying to establish in an interview if a job is going to make me ill and I'm just to put up with an excessive workload.

@girlmom21

I wouldn't want the job if they begged me to take it. There's a reason you smirked. You know what the organisation is like. You know you could do the work. You know you don't want the job. You know you can't trust what they say.

Thank you. This is exactly what is going on. They are not even hiding it and subtly telling you what will happen. I just don't want to be used and pressured to burn out just because I worked there before and know how to do the job.

The morale is low as the lady on Reception told me she had become permanent since I left there from temping a few months ago and I said congratulations. She said it will do for now, she said hopefully it's not for long and she was down when saying it and muttering. She is a nice woman and has only been there for 6 months and is already low.

I'd probably take someone smirking at me in an interview as a red flag, yes.

I wouldn't worry, smirking in an interview when being told the workload isn't great so that was probably enough for them to reject you.

It is a new role though as they haven't had it for a few years.

Technology has moved on so many support roles support more people these days than previously.

If you already felt the organisation did overload people with work why you even bother to go to an interview?

If they noticed you smirking I suspect you needn't worry about making a decision anyway.

@SeasonFinale

It is a new role though as they haven't had it for a few years.

Technology has moved on so many support roles support more people these days than previously.

If you already felt the organisation did overload people with work why you even bother to go to an interview?

If they noticed you smirking I suspect you needn't worry about making a decision anyway.

It wasn't really a smirk more a smile. I know you are right, if they don't respect the staff and promote a burnout culture then I should not have applied. Maybe somewhere completely new is what I need.

How long has it been since you worked for the company?

@Aqua55

How long has it been since you worked for the company?

5 and a half years ago I left the permanent job. I went back this year and temped there for 5 months till July this year but most people were working from home and are now coming back to the office so I don't know the true working culture.

if they don't respect the staff and promote a burnout culture then I should not have applied

But if they do offer you the job, you could at least have the satisfaction of telling them why you're turning it down.

I've often thought one of the most invidious questions an interviewer can ask is "Do you work well under pressure?" - because it puts the interviewee in an impossible position. Answer "Yes" and you're making a rod for your own back if you get the job; answer "No" and you won't be offered it. I think the best way to answer, if asked, is "How often is that likely to happen?"

@ProfessionalWeirdo

if they don't respect the staff and promote a burnout culture then I should not have applied

But if they do offer you the job, you could at least have the satisfaction of telling them why you're turning it down.

I've often thought one of the most invidious questions an interviewer can ask is "Do you work well under pressure?" - because it puts the interviewee in an impossible position. Answer "Yes" and you're making a rod for your own back if you get the job; answer "No" and you won't be offered it. I think the best way to answer, if asked, is "How often is that likely to happen?"

Thank you for understanding. That's a good point, when an interviewer talks about working under pressure they want to know if you are a pushover who will make yourself ill because they won't employ extra people or if you say no they see you as obstructive and refuse you the job.