We’ve all heard stories about the nightmare of working for a toxic boss.

Red flags to such behaviour often appear as soon as the interview process begins. We’ve compiled 10 early warning signs of a toxic boss. Heed this advice, and you might be able to avoid a negative work environment — or at least know what you’re in for:

Disrespectful behaviour

“Don’t overlook unprofessional behaviour, such as e-mails that aren’t returned or disregard for stop and start times of the interview without apology,” says Anna Maravelas, author of How to Reduce Workplace Conflict and Stress.

Visual cues

“If your boss scans you from head to waist versus waist to head as they extend their hand in greeting you, they are intuitively sending a message that you are smaller than they are,” explains Zannah Hackett, author of The Ancient Wisdom of Matchmaking.

Defensive body language

“An insecure boss will find you threatening if you are good at your job and will use the power of the position to make your life miserable,” says Pamela Lenehan, author of What You Don’t Know and Your Boss Won’t Tell You.

Bad attitude

If your interviewer exhibits a general lack of enthusiasm or interest in the company, watch out, warns Donna Flagg, of the human resources and management consulting firm, The Krysalis Group.

Excessive nervousness

Don’t ignore extreme behaviour, cautions one worker. “My boss used to eat sugar packets and raisins, and she downed them with large cups of black espresso,” she recalls.

Distrust of others

A toxic boss “openly displays a lack of trust in people, especially for those on the team in which he or she is supposed to lead,” notes Gregg Stocker, author of Avoiding the Corporate Death Spiral: Recognizing & Eliminating the Signs of Decline.

Fear used as a motivator

Ask the prospective boss about others on the team with whom you will be working —specifically, how well they work together, stay focused and meet objectives, Stocker advises. Be wary if the response identifies a lack of respect for people.

Extreme friendliness

“It may sound odd, but what should have tipped me off was how nice she was,” one administrative assistant says of her toxic boss. “I compare it to children being lured into dangerous situations with candy. It was a trap I could’ve easily avoided had I caught on earlier.”

Self-absorption

“If his ideas seem to be more important than finding out about your ideas, or if you provide an answer and the interviewer tells you you’re wrong or interrupts with his own answer to the question, it may be an indication that he will be difficult to work with,” notes one technical support staffer.