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Job interviews can go both ways. You may be interviewing for the job, but the employer is also interviewing for the privilege of working with you. Not every job is a good fit, even if they seem to match "on paper." Part of the purpose of the interview is to determine not just if you could perform the tasks required, but also if you will fit into the culture. If you won't fit in, now is the time to take note, and walk away from the job.

We all know it's very hard when you're the hoop-jumper to turn down a bad situation. Remember that you can always get a temporary job flipping burgers if you have to, but feeling locked into a corporate environment where you just don't fit in is death to the soul.

Different people have different criteria for a workplace. For instance, I won't, on principle, urinate as part of the job screening process, unless I'm applying for a role where my actions can directly harm others, or if I'm working with kids. But for writing jobs? Nobody should ever ask what a writer has coursing through her veins.

Here are some of my top cues that an interview is going poorly... for the company:

* The salary quoted online or over the phone suddenly dropped by $3,000.
* The already-short deadlines discussed over the phone suddenly move up by a month or three.
* I don't actually meet anyone I'll be working with.
* The interview takes place in a big, beautiful office building, and I'm told at the end of the interview that we'll be working somewhere else.
* The interviewer makes unflattering comments about other applicants. This is highly unprofessional, and doesn't bode well for what they'll say about me.
* The interviewer makes any comment about physical appearance, race, age, or gender. Mine is not a role in which looks matter. If I were an actress, these comments would be appropriate.
* The company wants to see samples of documentation I've written for others, but won't give me the same privilege if we work together.
* Nobody will make eye contact.
* There's no receptionist at the front desk (this one's forgiven if it's a small office and they warned me in advance).
* The interviewer doesn't offer me a glass of water or something to drink. Double whammy if the interview is more than thirty minutes.
* Nobody gives me a tour of the office or premises.
* The company has conflicting criteria for the candidate. For instance, "team player" is not in sync with "self-starter." Similarly (and my personal gripe), "independent" is not in sync with "reports daily to four branches of management."
* I meet my bosses, and discover I will be reporting "directly" to four different people, all with conflicting agendas.

In one contract, I had a bad feeling from the outset, but stayed on, thinking the money was worth it. Not only wasn't it worth it, but I ended up barely afloat and living paycheck to paycheck because of the bad management practices I'd seen during the interview phase. Trust your gut.

If you're not particularly empathic with others, and you have a hard time "reading" other people, just try to be yourself and evaluate the employer solely on more concrete criteria, like salary, working conditions, co-workers, job description, and commute. These criteria are also good for more "gut instinct" candidates, but if you just don't have a gut instinct about these things, they're good to fall back on. Also, rank them in order of priority, so you know when the "right" job has come along.

Learn more about this author, Stephanie Bryant.
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