How do you go about spotting (and avoiding being hired by) a narcissistic boss? If 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴, read carefully.

Narcissistic bosses are characterised by their self-centeredness, lack of empathy, and tendency to manipulate and exploit their employees. It's not their fault, so there's not much they can do about it - their distorted view of reality impedes them from seeing a therapist and even attempting to change. Change is not viable for them, so you must avoid entering their trap.

While they're charming and charismatic during the hiring process, they exhibit abusive behaviours such as gaslighting, micromanaging, and taking credit for your work once on the job. They all invariably act in the same toxic way, negatively impacting others' mental health, career growth, and overall job satisfaction.

So... how do you 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗯𝗼𝘀𝘀 before they hire you?

👉 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝗼𝘀𝘀: look for red flags such as high turnover rates and negative reviews on employer review sites. See if there are genuine recommendations on their LinkedIn profile and/or check if they wrote reviews on Google, TrustPilot or similar website. If their reviews are constantly negative, it may be a red flag.

👉 𝗔𝘀𝗸 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: remember that the interview is a two-way process (a fact too often forgotten!). Ask about the boss' management style and how they provide employee feedback. Have them discuss previous setbacks and successes, and pay attention to how they assign blame and responsibility (narcissists cannot recognise their failures and cannot let others shine).

👉 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗰𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 where they shifted in opinion (they resist change with all their strength as they perceive it as a personal threat to their house of cards). Can't they? Red flag.

👉 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 in their language regarding previous employers and coworkers (they rarely have good words for others as they cannot share the limelight).

👉 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝘂𝘁: If something feels off during the interview or after starting the job, trust your instinct. Narcissistic bosses are master manipulators, so listening to your intuition and taking action if necessary is ESSENTIAL.

Working for a narcissist can negatively affect your mental health and career.

It's NEVER worth it.

So research, ask the right questions, and trust your gut - all this can help you avoid falling victim to a toxic work environment. You deserve to feel alive at work, shine and thrive!