Has anyone ever experienced this in a third interview?

22 Comments

1. AnonymousSeptember 6,2024 at 1:13AM UTC

   This sounds like a solution in search of a problem. This woman isn’t micromanaging, she’s seeing how you interact with the team. Shes after a cultural fit. What are you going to do, remove yourself from consideration because she’s listening in on the call with her camera off?

2. AnonymousSeptember 6,2024 at 1:30AM UTC

   Not at all, a red flag, odd, but maybe they had their reasons for this for which not necessary for you to know. Not all interviewing processes are created equally, and there's a transition in the culture of hiring with trying new things. Stay flexible with each company on how they assess.

3. AnonymousSeptember 6,2024 at 3:38AM UTC

   Or a boss who was insecure and unsure of her decision making.

4. AnonymousSeptember 6,2024 at 4:06AM UTC

   It could also be a good sign that she cares about her team and she wants them to like the person that ends up getting hired. Believe me, I wish I had had more managers like that.

5. JB09718September 6,2024 at 5:00AM UTC

   I think this is a good thing. She wants to see how you fit in with the team. She’s listening in but not participating. If she was micromanaging she would be involved and trying to facilitate interactions. I think it shows she trusts her team and values their feedback.

6. AnonymousSeptember 6,2024 at 2:05PM UTC

   I don’t know. It could be a red flag for

   micromanagement. If could be that she planned to be there, but something urgent came up that required her attention, and she didn’t want you to feel like she wasn’t being supportive, so she sat on the call while she worked on other things. Didn’t want to divulge that she was focused elsewhere. Maybe she just wanted to be there as a note taker so her team didn’t have to report back to her and could

   focus on the interview and conversation. It’s hard to make a call on this one based on one interaction.

7. AnonymousSeptember 7,2024 at 2:20PM UTC

   If the boss was a micromanager they likely wouldn’t even let the team interview you. This sounds more like they care about the overall team dynamic and want to see how you click with the others.

8. AnonymousSeptember 7,2024 at 4:32PM UTC

   Nope not a red flag, clearly she cares about the shape of the team and everyone getting along and communicating appropriately. The fact that he disclosed that she was a silent witness is a good thing. More concern if she was in there and you did not know. They did not blind side you instead they let you know she is highly involved in the process and that is a good thing.

   You can always follow up about management style directly with her, which I would if you have any concerns.

   Ask about conflict and tasking, and deadlines and expectations. Ask what success looks like for a new hire and how long they ramp you up on new things if you get something you have not done before. Ask about the onboarding program as well. Get as much information as you can pre-hire about these items because you may be disappointed if thy don't align with your learning and work style.

9. AnonymousSeptember 8,2024 at 2:13PM UTC

   Not a red flag exactly, but I use the “team colleague” interviews as a way to gauge culture and ask about what people like best about working there, maybe about work-life balance and expectations, etc. So I think I would be less likely to feel comfortable asking those questions or be sure I were getting honest answers.

10. AnonymousSeptember 8,2024 at 2:18PM UTC

    I agree with what the others have said, but I would add that the presence without the video could mean she is traveling and listening to the interview in the car or sick at home. It could also mean a multitude of other very legitimate reasons. I agree that instead of a red flag, the fact that you were informed that she would be listening is a good thing.

11. SPNN4 SSeptember 10,2024 at 1:10PM UTC

    Agreed. There could be any number of reasons for the person to be off camera. I would just add that sometimes they may want to listen in because people hear things differently.

    IMHO - You could be asked about something regarding a particular experience and respond a certain way and someone can hear that and interpret it differently and so she just might want to hear the responses real time instead of second hand from someone.

12. AnonymousSeptember 9,2024 at 1:37PM UTC

    She's not a spy if you've been told she is there.

    There are a lot of people with some really weird comments on this. Y'all got a lot of baggage you're carrying.

13. AnonymousSeptember 10,2024 at 1:09PM UTC

    I don't see a red flag. Yellow, maybe. Too many unknowns. While [I've been conditioned to] prefer separate interviews to ask questions about culture and work styles to ascertain consistency, I've also had group interviews and observed subtle (and not so subtle) micro-expressions. It's clear that this boss wants to be a part of the team dynamic. Is it micro-management? Unknown. It could be they want to invite (or show that they are inviting) opinion from the team, but wants to see how they are doing in this situation.

    What some folks say is micromanagement could just be management. The fact that the colleague mentioned it and kept you informed was good. At the end of the day, you'll never know 100% of what you need when interviewing. If it's okay for you, good. If you feel it's too much of a red flag, keep interviewing.

    Or, if you have other questions, or a chance to speak with the potential boss- perhaps find some follow up questions about management style, etc. See if you feel better or not. I've done that and it really helped me feel good about my choice/s.

    Good luck!

14. AnonymousSeptember 10,2024 at 1:27PM UTC

    She could have had a dr's appt, driving to catch a flight, loved one having surgery, so she took the time to talk to you one on one to give you her full attention. She may have also been sick and did not want to be seen. Maybe she wants to see how the team acts/reacts in an interview.

    I really wouldn't read a whole lot into it. Don't over anlayze.

15. AnonymousSeptember 10,2024 at 1:30PM UTC

    Seems like you haven't been exposed to enough variety of personality in the world. I have *severe* camera shyness due to childhood trauma and prefer to listen and absorb info during meetings, only getting involved when my expertise and perspective are required for a decision or action. I can handle turning the camera on for those moments as it is our policy to do so, but to have it on the entire time is mentally taxing.

    There are scores more legitimate reasons for this behavior than the one conspiracy theory. If one prefers to have all attendees on camera for their own comfort, then they can certainly ask, but people should also be able to politely decline without having suspicion hanging over their heads.

16. Maggie StoneSeptember 10,2024 at 1:43PM UTC

    Well, since you were told about it, it doesn’t seem like anything shady or deceptive is happening. As a hiring manager, I can see wanting to sit in or listen. Maybe she wants to see if her initial impression holds up or how you interact with other team members.

17. AnonymousSeptember 12,2024 at 4:23AM UTC

    She should trust her employees that they would give her honest feedback after the interview.

18. AnonymousSeptember 10,2024 at 2:21PM UTC

    If I knew that someone was in the background watching the interview over Zoom without participating in it, even if they would be my boss that it would definitely be a deal breaker for me. The reason why it would be a deal breaker for me is that it would make me feel that my potential new boss doesn't trust the other members on the team that also take part in making hiring decisions, and if there is a potentially a level of mistrust in making decisions if the new potential boss isn't there during a panel interview then what other potential red flags are they not showing you. Therefore, for me I would decline to be considered further for this position.

19. AnonymousSeptember 10,2024 at 5:44PM UTC

    You’re reminding me about the worst boss I ever had, who in addition to other terrible things didn’t let me and a team member interview potential new coworkers without her in the room (after she had already done first interviews and met the candidates).

20. LORI-ANN BURLINGAMESeptember 10,2024 at 9:31PM UTC

    Your instincts are correct -- this is a ref flag. It appears that she wants to see how you will interact with the other staff members in her absence. Will you be loyal to her or will you be closer with the other staff members? Uncomfortable.

21. AnonymousSeptember 11,2024 at 5:04PM UTC

    I have an aunt who is living with me. I have been on calls listening while she is in surgeries. I knew about the surgeries but the world doesn't always revolve around me, so you make do. Participate the way you can.

22. AnonymousSeptember 12,2024 at 4:12AM UTC

    Yes, 'shady' and definitely weird. She may be a total micromanager, which is definitely a red flag.

    I like panel interviews that offer the candidate to ask how their style allows autonomy to then show the boss one can independently make decisions that benefit the team and company.