It's not simply what the employer thinks of the applicant that matters during a job interview. Candidates for jobs must ensure that their potential supervisor is a good fit for them as well.

The Harvard Business Review and other research have found that having a lousy boss is the biggest contributor to workplace discontent rather than pay or vacation time.

Leadership experts claim that a lousy boss frequently treats staff poorly, micromanages them, communicates poorly, is absent, doesn't seem to care about their welfare, or is guilty of all of the aforementioned.

We invited readers to share their experiences with bizarre, absurd, or downright strange things they were required to do at work for a new CNBC It series called "On the Clock."

Unsurprisingly, managers frequently made the weirdest requests. For instance, one woman's work required her to chauffeur her cat around Los Angeles for hours at a time.

Avoiding a lousy boss and a stressful work environment is vital. Even the most optimistic professional's job objectives might be dashed by day-to-day misery.

Here are five indicators you should watch out for in a job interview to identify a terrible boss:

• You felt uneasy in your gut.

Expert on employer-employee interactions and psychologist Amy Cooper Hakim advises professionals to pay attention to their gut reaction.

She advises CNBC to trust their instincts. If you experience any discomfort throughout the interview, there is certainly a good explanation for it.

Does she speak without making direct eye contact? According to Hakim, co-author of "Working With Difficult People," does she seem "too busy" for you?

According to her, supervisors who come off as haughty or who say things like "that's how things are done around here" could very well end up being micromanagers or rude.

• The workers you spoke with appeared unhappy

According to Hakim, if the employees appear unhappy or overworked, you probably will as well.

Additionally, while you're there, pay attention to how the boss treats his staff. If he was rude to one of them, you might get the same treatment if you get the job.

• The boss ignored your wait and continued to keep you waiting.

Dorie Clark, a marketing strategist, asserts that how someone manages their time reveals a lot about them.

Clark asks CNBC, "Did they keep you waiting, and if so, how did they manage it?" Everybody occasionally experiences delays or emergencies. However, you want them to apologize if they kept you waiting for longer than, say, 10 to 15 minutes.

According to Clark, author of "Reinventing You," "A blithe desire to waste your time will carry over once you're formally their subordinate."

• Your supervisor insulted you or was impolite

When reviewing your résumé, if the manager disparages or downplays your accomplishments, take that as another warning sign, advises Hakim. "Someone like this will frequently criticize you rather than edify you."

Check to see if the boss behaves in a way that you would expect from, well, anyone. Watch out for managers that are overtly snarky, frequently interrupt you, send you SMS or emails during the interview without justification, or appear to lack communication skills.

• The manager mocked another employee's work

It's unwise to put someone else down in front of you, according to Hakim.

Consider it, she urges. "Everyone ought to behave themselves best during the interview. How will the boss behave beyond the honeymoon period if she behaves this way now?

Make a note of it if you notice one or more of these warning signs. Even if it doesn't necessarily imply that you shouldn't accept the position, it is something to think about, particularly if you have the opportunity or time to interview with a different possible employer.