Should you accept a job offer if you don't like the person you’d be working for? The short answer is probably not, but the longer one is that there might be situations where it’s appropriate to take the job. You also might not have a lot of choice if you’re unemployed and trying to pay the bills.

It's a difficult decision. You spend a lot of time on the job; if you don't like your boss, that time can feel long and hard. Not getting along with your manager is stressful. Having to second-guess whether you're doing the right thing or if your work is going to be criticized is a challenge. Plus, work should be fun, at least some of the time, and working with someone you don't like is never fun.

It's not just your quality of life that's affected. Managers play a role in determining if you get a raise (or not), if you get promoted (or not), and if you get offered interesting projects (or not). The best boss can make your working life much easier; the worst can make it hell.

If you're interviewing and you get a bad vibe from a manager or think that you'll struggle to get along with the person, it can be hard to know what to do. Should you take the job and presume things will work themselves out? Or, is it better to turn down a job offer, even though there's always a possibility the manager won’t be so bad after all?

One of the best ways to decide is to listen to your gut. If it’s telling you to take the offer (or decline it), listen. Guts are usually right. From a practical perspective, though, there are some ways to analyze the situation to help you decide what to do.

How To Tell if a Manager Will Be Difficult

Even the most even-keeled person can find some people easier to get along with than others. It's like workplace culture—some places (and people) are a better fit than others. It's possible that you'll meet your potential manager and immediately get a sense that this isn't going to be a good fit. Only you can know if that's a dealbreaker or something you can handle.

These are some of the signs of a difficult manager that you might notice during an interview:

Attitude: Is it all about them? Does the manager talk too much? Are the job, the company, and the employees portrayed in a positive light? The focus should be on your qualifications for the job (not how great the manager is), and the tone of the interview should be positive. If they aren’t, it could be a sign that your manager's ego will be what's most important or a sign that this might not be the best workplace for you.

Listening: During the interview, does the manager listen to your responses and ask follow-up questions? How does the manager respond to your questions? Are they carefully listening to what you're asking and answering appropriately? Listening is one of the most valuable workplace skills, and having a boss who listens is worth a lot.

Obnoxious behavior: During an interview, everyone is trying to make a good impression. You're trying to sell your candidacy for the job. The interviewer is trying to sell you on the job and the company. If you find a potential manager unpleasant under these circumstances, imagine what it would be like on the job when there's no need to impress.

Workplace Satisfaction: If you meet anyone supervised by your prospective manager, pay attention to the interaction—do potential co-workers seem happy or intimidated? Similarly, note how a potential manager talks about employees. Do they speak highly of them? The best bosses support and praise their team.

How To Decide What To Do

What should you do if you are worried that you won't get along with your manager? There isn't, of course, a right or wrong answer to the question.

One of the most important considerations is whether your dislike is personal or work-related. If you find the manager's personality abrasive and you wouldn’t be friends if you met at a party, that's probably surmountable. It's nicer to work with someone you get along with, but it's not essential. But if you think the manager would undercut you or make your day-to-day work difficult, that's more concerning.

Everyone's situation will be unique, but here are a few considerations that can help you think through your decision:

How badly do you need the job? If you need a job desperately, there may not be a workaround. If you're in dire financial straits, you most likely will have to take any reasonable offer—even if it's accompanied by a potentially toxic, difficult manager. That said, you don't have to stay forever. You can consider it a bridge job and a stepping stone to your next role.

How closely will you work with the manager? Try to get a sense of the organizational structure at the company. It may be that you have a lot of dotted-line managers—other people who can provide mentorship, feedback, and support in place of the not-so-great supervisor. Or, it's possible your manager frequently travels, isn't hands-on, and won't be providing a lot of day-to-day oversight.

Does the company have high turnover? LinkedIn or Glassdoor can help you figure this out. If people frequently cycle in and out of the company or change roles, it's possible the manager might not stay at the company for long, either. On the other hand, if the manager has been there for years, and everyone else around them has been moving on, that could be a sign that you're not the only person who finds the manager difficult.

Could you switch roles? Take a look at the company's job board to see if there are other jobs available that might be a better fit. If there are, you might want to consider asking about them. You'll have to be very careful if you do: you don't want to say that you are looking for another option because you don't want to work with a specific person. But there may be a way to finesse yourself into a different role with a different supervisor.

News & Noteworthy

30 Companies Hiring Right Now: Glassdoor has a list of 30 companies that are actively hiring, along with information on the jobs that are available and how to apply.

May Layoffs: Newsweek reports that over 120 companies are planning on laying off employees this month, including Amazon, JP Morgan Chase, Microsoft, and Wells Fargo. While the job market was stable in April, May may be a different story, with tariffs possibly impacting layoffs and hiring in some sectors.

How Much Should You Have in Your Emergency Fund? It sounds like a lot of money, but Investopedia reports that the average American household’s emergency fund should total about $35,000, which is six months of emergency expenses. Don’t feel bad if yours is short—the median balance for households with at least one account was about $8,742.

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