The Savvy Networker has 10 ways to ruin a job interview. Most of these are kind of obvious but maybe by reading it you can catch yourself if you start to do any of them without thinking about it. Also, it’s kind of fun to imagine someone doing them, like #10: Doing anything disgusting: “One candidate asked me for a cup of water, took a sip, swished it around in his mouth, and spat into a potted plant.”
Here’s my number 11: Don’t try to mimic the interviewer’s postures and then subtly alter them to get them to mimic you back and try to exercise Jedi mind control over the situation. I tried to do that once in college and I think the person eventually noticed and then I noticed that she noticed and that made me nervous so I couldn’t stop copying her so in the end my attempt to “dominate” the situation just got me more dominated. Needless to say, I didn’t get the gig.
Got any job interview gaffes? Share yours in the comments. (Photo: slushpup)
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I think the most important rule would have to be “Actually be remotely qualified for the job that you’re applying for.”
When the manufacturing plant I work for was hiring CNC machinists last year the very first thing that the interviewer would do was ask the applicant if they could read a set of calipers and a 0″-1″ micrometer.
This was a requirement listed in all the want ads. They all said yes. The interviewer then had them prove it by giving them the tools and a finished part.
Barely a third of the applicants to do this simple yet essential skill.
When Dropping off your resume/asking for an application don’t ask about smoke breaks.
all i got for ya.
I have been on many hiring panels, and I hate it when people go on and on with an answer. In most cases, less is more when you are answering the question. Let the interviewers follow up if they want to learn more, but don’t bore them and waste their time prattling on about how you had to inventory office items including pens, pencils, paper clips, notepads…get my drift.
Practice answering completely buy succintly. Have a friend practice interviewing you. If you keep it interesting for them and they stay engaged, you are set. If not, tweak your answers.
And pay attention to the interviewers body language. If they are tuning out, you will be able to tell. At that point, close your mouth.
A shorter interview is sometimes better. You have gotten less rope with which to hang yourself, and you have shown that you won’t be that guy or girl who makes the team meetings last three hours.
Oh, and be sure to at least send an e-mail thank you, if not a real, paper thank you. And know something about the company and industry you claim to want to work in!
@momma_andrea:
“And pay attention to the interviewers body language. If they are tuning out, you will be able to tell. At that point, close your mouth.”
And thisss is why I hate phone interviews. I’m very good at reading nonverbal cues. In the absence of them I’m nervous that I’ll get on someone’s nerves.
Another no-no: asking personal questions of the interviewer / level-jumping
During chit-chat while interviewing a candidate I mentioned something about my husband. She interrupted me and demanded, “Why don’t you wear a ring?” The candidate was rejected.
When my coworker asked a candidate, toward the end of an interview, if he had any questions, he asked her what she did on the weekends. He was rejected.
Having been unemployed for five months now (in Michigan of all places), I always seem to think back to the succession of Red’s parole hearings in the Shawshank Redemption. I’m pretty much at the point that I just want to tell the interviewer that I don’t really give a shit anymore and that they should stop wasting my time.
I hated getting interviewed in undergraduate school. I was honest on my resume and listed my work experience with DisneyWorld (That awful internship program they’ve got). All the interviewers wanted to talk about was Disney, and I think I destroyed their hopes and dreams because I told them the truth.
As an employer, practice talking about money (salary, benefits, etc.) with a straight face.
Seriously, people put so much effort into what they wear and how their resume looks, but can’t tell me how much money they want. I can’t stand people who can’t hold a serious discussion about money. If you can’t give me a straightforward answer about money, how can I trust you with any part of my business?
@meechybee:
I don’t know if you are talking about people who are very experienced in the job market and already have a salary history. But as a soon-to-be college undergraduate, I really am sort of at a loss. I don’t want to undercut myself but I also don’t have any experience so I can’t overstretch my boundaries. It’s easier to put a value on previous experience than it is to put one on a liberal arts education, a thesis, and some fancy extracurriculars.
@aguacarbonica: No it’s not. Pick a number that you’re comfortable with and ask for it. Especially if you’re a woman: women NEVER ask for enough money or usually even attempt to negotiate their salary.
Whether you’re an old pro or a recent college grad. If it’s the latter, you’ll get offered $24,000, maybe for your entry level job. Then say, I need 28k. They’ll come back with less, and then you can take that. Or negotiate flex time for yourself, or take a lower salary and say you’d like to be reviewed in 6 months for a raise. Always know what you’re worth and negotiate.
Oh, I’ve had the awesome experience of having a potential employee show me work of “theirs” that I actually did when I was at the same company years prior.
Do not do.
Right out of HS I got an interview at Home Depot. I was doing good in the interview, then I was filling out the paperwork and a huge drop of drool came out of my mouth and right on the application. They never called me back.
A mistake I’ve made is to not drop them a line after the fact to thank them for their time and consideration.
A few years ago I was living in DC and had a few really promising interviews. But I had a total lapse of judgment and just simply forgot to touch base with these people a day or two later to thank them. I don’t know what I was thinking, since this is the sort of thing I do in my non-job-applying life. Just don’t forget to do thank them again late via email or phone.
Always be nice to the secretary. I always asked the secretary what the candidate was like because she saw the person in a relatively “disarmed” state. You know the person will kiss up to you in any case because you’re the interviewer.
@LeonardoAglaea:
Being the receptionist, I have seen a lot of people come in to either fill out apps or for interviews and I WILL flag you!
I made a PowerPoint about this just for laughs and put some stuff like this in:
- Be polite. If you are rude, the receptionist will flag your app at the speed of light.
- The receptionist does not want to hear your life story. [I HATE this)]
- If you cannot fill out an application without a boyfriend, girlfriend or parent along for “moral support,” chances are this job is not for you. In fact, ANY job may not be for you.
- For God’s sake, DON’T PUT YOUR GUM UNDER THE DESK.
- DRESS: The more conservative, the better. Do not wear jeans and a hoochy-mama top with flip-flops.
- If you are a man, do not wear jeans and a hoochy-mama top with flip-flops.
- Don’t drown yourself in perfume or cologne. There’s no faster way to end an interview than giving your interviewer a fatal asthma attack.
- If you give your interviewer a fatal asthma attack, don’t ask, as he/she is being wheeled into the ambulance, “Does this mean I have the job?”
- Bring all your information with you. It makes you look like an unprepared doofus to have nothing.
There’s more but that’s the general gist.
@LeonardoAglaea:
Everyone says be nice to the receptionist.
While I totally agree, it’s important to be pleasant to everyone during an interview, I’ve never asked the receptionist what they thought of someone I was considering hiring. I decided that myself.
A few years back after a long period of unemployment I applied for a job with a slightly nebulous description. About halfway through the interview, I decided that I really wasn’t interested so I upped the honesty level.
When asked “what is your greatest weakness?” My response was “Friday afternoons. After lunch on Friday I tend to check out, mentally, and not really be interested in doing any work and will usually leave early”. The interviewer (the VP of the place) leaned back and said hmmmmm, and continued the interview. Two weeks later they called me back and offered me a job, the VP said he appreciated my bold honesty to a question to which most people give BS answers.
1. I took the job.
2. I still have that job, 3 years later.
3. The job has evolved into something I really enjoy and am very good at.
4. I don’t do anything after lunch on Friday and usually leave at least an hour early. I keep my promises.
@Jeff McRae: Oh yes the Office Space like honest answer…
@Jeff McRae: need hero tag…
I took an interviewing class in college and it was the best thing I ever did. Was not required for my major, and the communication professor that taught it was a former interrigator for the FBI.
It was one of the toughest classes I took but it gave me every worst case scenario to look for. I have never been nervous or feel that I have done bad on an interview. In fact I have gotten every job I have applied for except for one, which I interviewed four times and was later told that I finished second.
We always joked with this professor that he could probably make more money as a private interview preparer than teaching communication at a state university.
Actually these folks writing the ‘what not to do in interviews’ should pay attention to some other facts.
These interviewers who act like they are some kind of elite masters should remember the shoe can pop onto the other foot later:
I went to an interview for a job that was actually ‘offered’ to me by the guy that ran the program. I did not know that I would be in a ‘panel interview’ until I got there. I was stressed as I was at a charity event that morning and had to bail out of the fun stuff for the afternoon interview. There were 2 idiots that kept asking extremely detailed in depth networking questions and after the 3rd question I was done. I told the group that I appreciated the opportunity to interview for the job but they were looking for a much different candidate than what they had listed for.
The chairperson walked with me outside and apologized for the behavior and we talked for a while about some ideas for their program. Nice guy. BIG job to work with.
Guess what happened a month later? Those two fools came to me for interviews. Guess what questions they got from me? Yup they could not answer their OWN interview questions. I wrote them down and looked them up later.
Ahhhh the justice.
I just had an interview on Monday. My fiancee forwarded me this article early that morning and said “Read up and follow!!!”
One thing I really had to watch out for… My (future) boss attempted to test my professionalism by getting into “relaxed” mode and telling some stories. He started mixing in some bad words. I made sure not to mimic him in this regard, keeping my language professional. This is for a pretty intense sales position btw. Wish me luck, would be one helluva raise if I get it! =)
Dress appropriately!
I can’t count how many people I’ve interviewed who arrived in shorts, wrinkled shirts, ball caps, torn jeans, sunglasses on head… Even if you’re going into an informal field like gardening or retail, you should still dress up. Pressed pants and a neat polo with clean dress shoes at a minimum. It shows respect and effort.
Be nice to the receptionist. He/she is the litmus test and you don’t want to fail.
Also, don’t walk into a place of business where two employees are standing, and ask the male employee if he’s the manager and not even acknowledge my presence. Because the male employee pointed to me and I said we’re not hiring.
I take issue with this:
Take the time to think through the question and compose a thoughtful answer. A few minutes of silence in the room won’t kill anybody.
But they will think you’re an idiot and interrupt your thoughts every 2 seconds by repeating the question and asking if you’re having trouble.
@Rectilinear Propagation: I thought the same thing when I read the article. A few minutes of silence in the room would actually be incredibly uncomfortable.
@Vicky: There are ways to manage it, though. “You know, I’m going to take a second to think about this” is okay; slack jaws and glassy eyes, not so much.
@Rectilinear Propagation:
… that and say “take your time”. I am taking my time, that’s why I’m not answering the question yet!
for my current job i was interviewed by my future team leader and the department manager. as a new interview tool they had decided to ask a few brain teaser puzzles just to see how people react to something unexpected thrown at them. they weren’t anything difficult, but the best part of the interview was when I got one of the questions right and the manager turns to the other guy and says ‘that’s not right is it?’ the guy who ended up being my team leader just looked at him and shook his head and moved on to the next question.
oh, and if you ever take off your jacket (as in suit jacket) during the interview, my current boss would consider the interview over and not hire you.
Protect your intellectual property; research the position and company, but don’t give them too much to work with. I interviewed with a major media company a few months back, and prepared a (requested) list of suggestions. Fast forward 3 months and although I’m not working with the company, I noticed they had launched an application eerily similar to what I’d suggested.
I wonder how often this happens on a regular basis.
I once interviewed a technical PhD who was a Rhodes Scholar. His resume was so badly formatted, my son at 10 could have made it look better.
He was not interviewing for a research position, this was a technical job in marketing which would occasionally require a fair amount of lifting, pushing, and pulling large amounts of of heavy equipment used for demos, trade shows, etc. This was jeans and T-shirt work. When told of this, he said, “Don’t you have people to do that for you?”
Despite my strong objections, he was hired. He turned out to be a lazy first-class jerk.
Two additional points:
* A few years later, I checked him out on LinkedIn. He must have lied about the Rhodes Scholarship; you’d post it there if you were a Rhodes Scholar, right?
* I also learned he used to be the platonic roommate of one of the more influential interviewers. This was never disclosed.
It’s been mentioned a couple of times, but it’s worth mentioning again. If you want the job always send a follow-up letter thanking them for the interview. It lets them know you’re serious about the position you applied for.
I always made it a point to get the interviewer’s business card so I already had all of the contact info when I got home.
My last employer told me that it was my letter that led her to chose me over the other candidate.
@BathroomDuck: Exactly, though on certain occasions if you’re going through a recruiter, they will receive feedback right away.
Speaking of which, make sure the recruiter sends you the right job description. I totally blew it for a recent interview because I’d prepared based on an outdated description (there are certain key reasons why the proper one was essential in this case). Thanks for nothing.
Here’s two more gaffes from first-hand experience…
If you hit the restroom before an interview, WASH. YOUR. HANDS.
Aside from the sanitary aspect, you never know who that other person that’s in there with you might be.
I refused to shake the hand of an interviewee because I was in the restroom at the same time they were and I told them exactly why I refused.
Needless to say, the interview was over before introductions were even made.
If you feel the need to tell someone how the interview went, wait until you cannot possibly be overheard.
Some idiot decided to brag to his significant other on his cell phone about how superior he was compared to the panel of “idiots” interviewing him before he’d even made it to his car in the parking lot and that there was no way we’d turn him down.
Unfortunately for him, I was on my way to lunch after being one of those idiots.
After walking on opposite sides of a service van that blocked his line of sight, we locked eyes and I gave him “that look.” The face he made was priceless.
“I gotta go honey, I’ll call you back.” was the last thing I ever heard him stammer.
@Prophaniti:
Just out of curiosity, how would you feel if you heard an applicant talking on the phone about what a great fit he thought the organization was and how hopeful he was that he’d get the position? Or would that still be too presumptuous?
I used to do the interviews for a print house/bulk mailing company. Production line work basically.
I was told to immediately weed out people who showed up carrying briefcases and business suits because they obviously had no idea how grungy production line work can be. I’m not sure I agreed, but I did as I was told.
But people I opted to weed out:
Showing up in badly torn clothing or clothing that obviously didn’t fit. Wearing jeans so that the waist is around your knees might have been fashionable, but I’d send you out the door and shred your resume in a heartbeat.
Women that wore way too much make-up or clouds of strong perfumes.
People who were late and offered no apology. I also disliked those who showed up half an hour early saying they’d hoped I’d fit them in early.
Gum chewers who spent the entire time blowing bubbles and snapping away at their gum.
I also turned down one guy for the job because he’d bullied me and my friends in high school. Pays to remember that your actions early in life might carry through for years to come!
When asked “when can you start?” always say in 2 weeks, unless you have no current job. Anything less shows that if you crap on your current employeer, you will do it to the one you are interviewing with also.
Don’t get too personal: I have had people tell me they were in counseling and what it was for, I have had people tell me about how their parents were murdered, etc.
I interviewed a guy who looked great on paper. When he came in, he leaned back in the chair, PUT HIS FEET UP ON MY DESK, and proceeded to tell me how he wanted more money than the position offered but didn’t really like to work very much, so he’d need Fridays off and only wanted to work 4-5 hours the rest of the days.
Oh, also it turned out he’d lied on his resume. But that didn’t really matter at that point.
11. Don’t be – or look like you are – in a hurry. If the employer thinks you’re watching the clock (regardless of whether you have an interview or not) he’ll happily let you leave to talk to the next applicant.
When they give you an hypothetical angry customer roleplay situation, don’t jokingly reply to the hypothetical angry customer by saying “you sound really angry right now, perhaps you should go have a cigarette and call back when you’ve gained more control of your nerves.”
…and I didn’t get the job.
Not at all presumptuous. In fact, I think if I overheard someone jabbering about that sort of line of thinking, it would actually help that candidate.
It demonstrates a high degree of interest, rather than just a “I need to have a job…any job.”
The advice I was trying to give is similar to what your mother tells you…if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. Especially within earshot of someone that can make or break the job offer.
I might have missed it, but I don’t think anyone here’s said to bring about 5 extra copies of your resume to any interview. I’ve been on lots of job interviews in my life, and 75% of the time they either ask you if you have an extra one on hand or flounder around their desks looking for one. It expedites the whole process and makes you look organized if you have one to offer.
From personal experience (being the interviewer)
- Wash. Seriously, take a shower. If you smell, I am not going to hire you.
- Dress up. Even though I am working at a relaxed place where we do not normally wear shirts, I will be on my best when I have someone to interview. Yes, I expect you to wear a shirt (no tie, jeans are OK)
::emp::
My reading is that the person deliberately answered all of the questions incorrectly and then, in order to be extra sure he wouldn’t get hired, made a racist comment to the hiring manager. Why go to a job interview and then do everything you can not to get hired?
I always wanted to just tell them I don’t have any weaknesses. I’m never late, I don’t get sick, I do what I’m told and I get along with everybody. Haven’t tried it yet, but I am moving to California (from Indiana) tomorrow in pursuit of a career. We’ll see how it goes.