Here

Are 35 Things to Avoid at Your Job Interview

1. Showupunprepared:Mostcandidateshaveseveraldaystoprepareforajobinterview.Thisis
plentyoftimetofreshenupyourresumeandreferences,andlearneverythingyoucanabout
thecompanyandjobforwhichyoureapplying.Knowingthebusinessanditsmajorplayersisa
greatwaytogiveyoutheedgeoverothercandidates.
2. Paylittleattentiontoyourappearance:Thinkyourappearancedoesntcount?Thinkagain!
Thetrendmaybeforbusinesscasual,butitsstillproperbusinessetiquettetowearasuit.
Whenitcomestothejobinterview,itsallaboutthefirstimpression.Thecompanywantsto
hirethebestpersontorepresentthebusiness.Visiblebodypiercings,tattoosorextremehair
stylesonindividualsusuallydontfitthedescription.
3. Havenothingtosay:Itsfrustratingtoaninterviewertoreceiveonesyllableanswers.Gointo
detail.Sellyourself.
4. Saytoomuch:Giveyourinterviewertimetotalk.Bymonopolizingtheconversationandnot
lettingothersgetawordinedgewise,youreshowingyourselftobeapoorlistenerand
disrespectfultohigherups.
5. Giveasobstory:Noonecareshowdeepindebtyouare.Ifyougiveyourinterviewersthe
impressionyoureirresponsibleoryourproblemsareadistraction,youwontgetthejob.
6. Telljokes:Ajobinterviewisntthetimeorplacetobeacomedian.Youneedtoshowyoure
seriousaboutthejob.
7. Lie:Dontlieabouteducation,qualifications,pastemploymentoraprisonrecord.Theseareall
thingsthatbusinesseslookintonowadays.Lyingduringajobinterviewcanalsobegroundsfor
dismissallateron.
8. Trashaformeremployer:Thisisoneofthebiggestmistakesmadeduringinterviews.When
askedwhytheyreseekingnewemploymentmanycandidateswillcomplainaboutapast
employer.Whywouldanyonewanttohireamalcontent?
9. Blameproblemsoncoworkers:Iftherewasanincidentatapastplaceofemployment,own
uptoitashonestlyaspossible.Castingtheblameonotherpeopleonlymakesyoulookworse.
10. Acttoofamiliarwithyourinterviewers:DontcallyourinterviewersBobandSuzy(evenifitis
theirnames).Unlessinvitedtodootherwise,addressthemasMr.,Ms.,Dr.oranother
respectfultitle.
11. Givetoomanypersonaldetails:Doyouthinkanemployerwouldwanttohireyouifhefinds
outyouliketogooutandpartyeverynightoryouregettingoveradrugproblem?Your
personallifehasnothingtodowithyourjob.Dontdivulgeunnecessarydetails.
12. Fidget,biteyournails,drumyourfingersorshownervousness:Employersarelookingfor
confidence,especiallyifyoureexpectedtomeetwithclientsorgivepresentations.
13. Chewgum:Noonewantstolistentotheequivalentofacowchewingitscud.
14. Bringyourbreakfast,lunchordinner:Notonlyisitimpolitetobringamealtothejob
interview,itsthebestwaynottogetthejob.Yourinterviewerdoesntwanttowatchyoueat,
nordoesshewanttowaituntilyourefinishedchewingtolearntheanswertoherquestions.
15. Bedisrespectful:Evenifyoudontagree,itsbesttoholdyourtongue.Nobusinesswantsto
hiresomeonewhoisdisrespectfultoothers.

Here Are 35 Things to Avoid at Your Job Interview

16. Turninamessyapplication:Ifyoureaskedtofilloutanapplication,dosoinaneat,tidy
manner,fillinginasmanyofthesectionsaspossible.
17. Bringonlyonecopyofyourresume:Youmayhaveseveralpeopleinterviewingyou.Bring
severalcopiesofresumesandotherpertinentinformation.Itllshowyouresomeonewho
comesprepared.
18. Sitbeforeyoureofferedachair:Waittobeinvitedbeforesitting.Youmaynotevenbe
stayinginthatroom.
19. Smokeordrinkalcohol:Ifyoureatalunchinterview,refrainfromsmokinganddrinking,even
ifinvitedtodoso.Theinterviewermaybetestingyou.Somebusinessesfrownuponsmokers
becausetheyspendalotoftimeoutsideandnoonewantstohiresomeonewhoindulgesin
cocktailsduringhisorherlunchhour.
20. Talkonyourcellphoneorreadtextmessages:Tonotturnyourcellphoneorpageroffforan
interviewisjustplainrude.Yourinterviewershouldhaveyourcompleteattention.
21. Showuplate:Beingtardyforajobinterviewtellsyourpotentialbossesyoureallydontcare
enoughtomakeaneffort.Ifyouhaveanemergencysuchasbeingcaughtbehindatraffic
accidentorasubwaystalling,callahead.
22. Discussmoney,timeofforbenefitsunlessanofferhasbeenmade:Thoughthisisprobably
whatyourethinkingaboutmostofthemost,youwantthepotentialemployertothinkitsthe
leastofyourconcerns.Thejobshouldbeonyourmindfirstandforemost,notthepayor
vacationtime.
23. Asknoquestions:Yourpotentialemployerwantstoknowyoureinterestedinthejob.Ifyou
dontaskanyquestions,yougivetheimpressionyoudontcare.
24. Bringyourcutelittledogontheinterview:Petsdontbelongatinterviews.Theyredistracting
andpresentthepotentialfordisaster.
25. Brushhair,filenails,putonlipstick:Primpbeforetheinterview,notduring.
26. Cutshorttheinterviewforanotherappointment:Yourpotentialemployerdoesntexpectto
beyouronlyjobinterviewbuthedoesexpectyoutoblockoutenoughtimetogiveacomplete
interview.Leavingtogotoanotherappointmentisrudeandtellstheemployerhesnota
priority.
27. Hitonthereceptionistorpassyourphonenumbertoacuteguy:Ifyougivetheimpression
youremoreinterestedindatingthanworkingyouwontgetthegig.
28. Gettoocomfortable:Dontputyourfeetup,putyourarmsbehindyourhead,crossyourlegs
orstretchthemoutintheaisle.Ajobinterviewisnttheplacetoletyourhairdown.
29. Givevagueanswers:Donttapdancearoundissues.Answerquestionstothebestofyour
ability.Ifyoucantanswerastraightforwardquestion,thisemployermightwonderwhatyou
havetohide.
30. Usefoullanguage:Itshouldgowithoutsayingthatfoullanguageisntappropriateatan
interviewletaloneaplaceofbusiness.
31. Actasiftheyneedyoumorethanyouneedthem:Yourenottheonlycandidate.Ifyouact
smugormakethehiringagentfeelinferioryouwontgetthejob.

Here Are 35 Things to Avoid at Your Job Interview

32. Excuseyourselfoftentousethebathroomorphone:Ifyoucantattendtheinterview
uninterruptedhowwillyoudothejob?
33. Forgettoshakehands:Apotentialemployerislookingforagood,firmhandshake.Dont
overlookthisimportantdetailasitsaysalotaboutyourcharacter.
34. Failtofollowup:Alwaysfollowupontheinterviewwithinafewdays.Itwillshowthe
employeryouwantthemob,andalsothatyoupracticegoodbusinesssense.
35. Failtosendathankyounote:Itspoliteandmakesagoodimpression.