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Job Interviews: 101 Common Mistakes to Avoid

You have found a great job opportunity. You have the necessary skills and experience. Everything is going according to plan, but for some reason you are not selected. What happened? You may have made a mistake in the interview. Most hiring managers are willing to let one or two small issues slide. However, if you make several of the common interview mistakes, you’ll never make the short list.

We interviewed hiring managers, recruiters, and even job seekers to identify the most common mistakes job seekers make. We intentionally do not rank the list of interview crimes, as their impact will vary widely depending on the attitude of the interviewer. As you go through the list below, some errors will seem pretty obvious, even common sense (and humorous). Some bugs apply only to one genre, but there are plenty for everyone.

We encourage you to review our list and make your own personal checklist, based on the job, the company, and your past experiences. Before each interview, look at the list again. In this way, it will be conditioned in its behavior and responses. After each interview, find out as soon as possible. Review the list, reviewing those items that were mishandled.

By carefully crafting your answers and avoiding interview mistakes, your confidence will increase and your job campaign will improve dramatically.

101 Job Interview Mistakes:

1. Being late for the interview (and not calling to let the interviewer know)
2. Bring food and drink to the interview.
3. Wear huge medals, chains, and flashy jewelry.
4. smelling of smoke
5. Referencing any staff member in any derogatory or suggestive manner
6. use obscene language
7. Forget to bring extra resumes
8. Taking liberties with the interviewer Ex: addressing by first name
9. Leave the cell phone on (and answer)
10. Wearing shirt unbuttoned in front; rolled up sleeves
11. Badmouthing your former supervisor or employer
12. Dressing very casual or overdressed: simple and conservative always works
13. Not sending a thank you note after the interview
14. Wear shorts, flex tops, tennis shoes, baseball cap, blue jeans
15. disheveled or disheveled hair
16. Chewing gum
17. Wear a tie or shirt with stains
18. Messy clothes – poorly ironed
19. Track dirt, snow, rain, etc. in the office
20. Showing tattoos
21. Wearing dirty or worn shoes
22. Put briefcase or purse on interviewer’s desk
23. Poor posture when sitting – slouching
24. Not giving a firm handshake
25. Make derogatory references to gender, race, or age
26. unshaven
27. Body odor, bad breath
28. Too much perfume or aftershave cologne
29. Shuffling papers and notes during the interview
30. Do not bring critical reference material: dates, names, addresses, etc.
31. Failing to obtain names and titles or bus cards from interviewees
32. Not acknowledging everyone in the organization Ex: receptionist, assistants, etc.
33. Assuming that one or more staff members do not influence the hiring decision
34. Interrupting the receptionist or other staff with a frivolous conversation
35. Laughing out loud during the interview
36. Telling jokes during the interview.
37. Not thanking the interviewer and expressing enthusiastic interest in the position
38. Not asking their level of interest – how you fit in – the next step
39. Ask who else is applying – what are their names?
40. Answering: ‘I already answered that question’
41. Lying
42. Losing your temper or arguing with the interviewer
43. Ask detailed salary questions at the first interview
44. Focus on medical benefits and sick time during initial discussions
45. No answer for “What type of position are you looking for? What are your career goals?”
46. Fidgeting: playing with hair and hands, cracking knuckles
47. Pick up and handle things at the interviewer’s desk
48. Ask the interviewer personal questions.
49. Hemming and hawing when replying
50. Not answering a question – stalling – ignoring a question
51. Not being prepared for the most common questions
52. Ask about vacation and compensation time at the beginning
53. Request flex time unless it is a routine and expected part of the job
54. Come to interview sick
55. Bring a friend or family member (even to the waiting room)
56. Direct the interviewer – “You should… do this or that”
57. Do not smile and show enthusiasm.
58. rambling instead of a clear and concise answer
59. Answer questions with irrelevant details
60. Exaggerate skills and achievements.
61. Not maintaining eye contact
62. Act like it’s the obvious choice or you already have the job
63. Being dismissive of HR staff and their role.
64. Offer apologies or qualifications before a response.
65. Don’t Investigate: Ask Questions You Should Already Know The Answers To
66. Demonstrate your knowledge about the company with common knowledge items
67. Implying that you are serving a promotion before you start
68. Failing to back up supposed skills with specific examples
69. Being a Philosopher: Focus Instead on Your Concrete Skills to Add Value
70. Not being prepared for tough questions about past failures, problems, layoffs, etc.
71. Interrupt the interviewer
72. Using threatening language: “If I don’t get this job…”
73. Mispronouncing an important word or name
74. Do not address the interviewer by name during the interview.
75. Failing to overcome negative observations or conclusions made by the interviewer
76. Say money don’t matter
77. Order something to eat or drink
78. Ask “When can I expect my review and how often do you give raises?”
79. Don’t follow the lead of the interviewer: if it’s all business, then you’ll be all business, etc.
80. Holding the interviewer hostage: Recognize when the interview is over
81. Not finding the next step in the process
82. Focus and comment on the decorations of the office, the titles and the size of the office.
83. Declare what you do not do or will not do
84. Make references to labor laws and labor regulations
85. Discuss problems with the interviewer
86. Emphasizing your medical conditions
87. Being a pity applicant: the employer is primarily interested in your needs, not theirs
88. Speak up at the interview implying that your skills and experience are superior
89. Say “You probably don’t know this because of your age or lack of experience, but…”
90. Not changing your personal voicemail to a professional answer
91. Do not cross your legs or ankles during the interview
92. Failing to warn family and roommates of possible calls from potential employers
93. Conducting telephone interviews in a noisy environment or subject to interruptions
94. Use existing employer’s phone or email to contact prospective employers
95. Forgetting critical information: who are you interviewing? time, address
96. Referencing potential employers on social media and blogs
97. Not getting detailed instructions beforehand
98. Send text messages in front of the interviewer or other staff
99. Ask to use the phone for routine business
100. Talk about politics or controversial events involving politics, religion, etc.
101. Offer details about personal life that the interviewer does not need

Copyright 2009 T Collins Group LLC