When times are tough, competition for the existing jobs becomes more fierce than ever. Even landing an interview can be an accomplishment. It would be a shame to ruin a chance at a good job by making a rookie’s mistake during the interview process.
Some items on this list of job interview tips may seem outlandish, but they reflect actual stories reported by managers at Fortune 500 companies. Real people interviewing for high-paying jobs actually committed these mistakes, and lost out as a result. Don’t let the same thing happen to you.
How to Ruin an Interview
1) Make it clear that you have more important things to be doing.
This mistake can take a variety of forms. Leaving your cell phone on is the most common, but there are other ways to communicate disinterest. One applicant to a major corporation announced that he hadn’t eaten lunch, and proceeded to take food out of his briefcase and eat it!
2) Look unprofessional in dress, personal habits, or accessories.
The old adage that you should dress for the job you want, not the job you have, holds true for interviews. No list of job interview tips would be complete without serious consideration towards an applicant’s appearance. Think about how you will need to dress on the job and then wear clothes that are slightly more formal. Make sure that your hair is neatly combed and your nails are clean and trimmed. Have a pen handy, and be certain that it’s a blue or black ballpoint, preferably in a professional style. Under no circumstances should you pull out a purple wide-tipped felt marker to sign your name. Unbelievable? Maybe, but one job seeker at a top corporation did just that — and lost the job.
3) Talk as though all you care about is money.
Of course you care about your finances — we all do. Making that come across as the most dominant part of your personality, however, will make the interviewer question how long you plan to be at the company. No business wants to invest in training an employee who seems like a short-term solution. Don’t start the interview by asking about perks and benefits.
4) Act like the interviewer is lucky to be talking to you.
You do want to appear confident, but keep it in the realm of reality. Don’t imply that you know more about the business than the boss does. Be sure to follow up the interview with a polite thank-you note.
Other Ways to Ruin an Interview
No summary of job interview tips would be complete without mentioning the following common mistakes applicants make:
* Arriving late.
* Forgetting some required paperwork.
* Failing the drug test.
* Badmouthing a current or previous boss.
* Making excuses for problems in your job history.
* Blaming co-workers for things that went wrong.
Avoid all of the above, and you’ll increase your chances of landing a job. Even better, you’ll decrease the chances that your job interview behavior will someday end up being mentioned on a list just like this!
