So a few years ago I applied for a position for which I was well suited and it was a contractor doing work for a 'four-letter' government agency in the D.C. suburbs. I arrived 15 minutes ahead of time and checked-in with an apparently very annoyed receptionist who made a call that I was in the lobby and didn't offer me a seat or direct me to anywhere to sit. Okay, well whatever. I mean it was already 9AM and I'm sure her day is already ugly, so I'll just wait like an idiot across the room where I spy a few open chairs around a table.
A half hour rolls by and eventually someone walks up to the receptionist and chats for a moment before casting an eye in my direction and proceeds to walk over to me. Mind you, about 100+ people have been moving in/out of this lobby area in the meantime and all I have is a name, but no face to identify with whom I'm supposed to meet.
The guy approaching me looks like he is already hassled from the morning, identifies himself as the name that I'm supposed to meet and offers me his hand which I shake and he asks me to walk with him which I do. We make a little chit-chat while walking and he asks me where I'm presently working and I mention my then current employer and how long I've been there. He nods a couple of times while we're walking and says..
“Interesting! Hey, if they ever need some help there, please let me know!”
I stumble a little as I'm processing this comment. This guy would be my supervisor if I accept this position. He just asked me, in polite terms, if I could get him a job where I'm already working. In under 5 seconds, I've already decided that I don't want to work there. I'm polite and run through the interview, answering questions and even offering advice on what they'll need to do to improve their processes and some rather glaring security issues they've been struggling to overcome. The next day, they make me an offer, but I politely decline and use a longer commute time as rationale for 'Thanks, but no thanks'.
There were some -other- red-flags such as all the management were somehow related and had little to no formal education or experience. But honestly, the initial comment by the possible supervisor just locked my decision right there and then.