I used a similar approach for job hunting at one point. Perform a few interviews in an "exploration phase" where the purpose is less to impress the prospective

I used a similar approach for job hunting at one point. Perform a few interviews in an "exploration phase" where the purpose is less to impress the prospective employer, and moreso to get a pulse on the industry. You won't be able to separate company-specific red flags from industry woes until you compare & contrast a few places.