5 'red flags' you're dealing with a narcissistic boss—they're the 'worst type,' says career expert

Imagine walking into a job interview and feeling 100% ready. You've polished your resume and prepared good answers.

But as an HR and career expert with 20 years of experience, I've found that the interview process isn't just about impressing potential employers — it's also about protecting yourself from a toxic work environment.

To prevent your dream job from turning out to be a nightmare, you must be able to spot the signs of the worst type of boss: the narcissist. Here are the red flags:

You may be dealing with a narcissistic boss if they talk more about themselves during the interview than about your background or experience.

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They might say things like: "When I took over the department, things started to go really well," or, "That project was a disaster until I came in and turned it around."

This often indicates that they put their own achievements before the team dynamic. Keep track of how many times you hear "I" versus "we."

Observe how they treat or speak about others during the interview. Do they ignore and dismiss their colleagues? Do they trash their peers or the people who you'd be working with?

This behavior could present itself in a few different ways. During the interview, someone might apologetically pop their head in to ask for a signature, and the manager's response is an irritated: "Can't you see I'm in the middle of something?" 

Disrespect doesn't discriminate. If this is how they act in front of a stranger, it's likely even worse day-to-day.

Driven by their own insecurities, a gaslighting and narcissistic boss might try to question your achievements and experience.

If you tell them about an accomplishment, for example, they might say something like: "That seems a bit exaggerated," or, "Is that all that you did?" These are signs that working for them will make you doubt your skills and abilities.

A narcissistic boss will sell a vision of the future where you're a star player, but the details are hazy.

So if you hear things from your interviewer that sound too good to be true, like, "I think you could be the CEO someday!" or, "I'd love to fast track you ... you remind me of myself when I was your age," you may be walking into a dead-end job.

They likely have no intention of sharing the spotlight. 

Constructive, professional feedback is not in the narcissist's toolkit. They might say things like, "Interesting approach, but it seems a bit outdated," or, "It's intriguing how you measure success, but I'm not sure I'd call that one a win."

If the feedback seems unhelpful and more like a subtle attack, that's likely what it is. It's also a sign that if you join their team, they will constantly undermine you.

An interview is a two-way street. You're evaluating them as much as they are evaluating you. So trust your instincts and don't be afraid to walk away from an opportunity that doesn't feel right for you.

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Tamica Sears is the co-founder of Sears Coaching. An HR professional and leadership development coach with over two decades of experience, she has worked with leaders in a wide range of organizations, from Fortune 100 companies to mom-and-pop shops She is also the author of "How To Tell If You're An A**Hole Boss." Tamica is a mom of two and based in Phoenix, Arizona.

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