Unforgivable Job Interview Mistakes
What Job Seekers Should Never Do if They Want to be Hired
Jul 6, 2009
From the moment job seekers receive a phone call for a job interview until the moment a job offer arrives, it is important they consider what they can do to win over each potential employer. However, they also need to consider what they should not do to blow their chances of securing a job offer. Here are five things job seekers should never do if they want to land a job.
Miss a Job Interview and Then Call Afterwards to Reschedule
It really is okay to reschedule a job interview. Recruiters and hiring managers understand that things come up and adjustments need to be made. However, job seekers need to keep in mind this means prior to the appointment time.
It is not appropriate to miss a job interview appointment and call hours or even days later to explain. By then it is too late. And job seekers who have landed a position and decide to blow off some other job interview appointment need to rethink this decision. If something happens and the first job doesn’t work out, it will be too late to go back to the other employer. That’s why it is important to politely call and explain the situation. Job seekers should not burn bridges.
Show Up for Job Interview Dressed Inappropriately
How many times and how many ways can this be said? Dress for success. That does not mean purchasing an expensive outfit just for a job interview. It's all about dressing appropriately based on the position within the company.
Naturally, a CEO is going to dress much differently than a maintenance worker. However, they each need to be neat, clean and well-groomed wearing clothing that is suitable to their role. That might mean a business suit and tie or it could just be a nice pair of slacks and shirt.
Arrive at Job Interview With Someone in Tow
The baby sitter didn’t show up? Don’t have a ride to the job interview because the car is in the shop? Bringing family or friends to a job interview is totally inappropriate. So if that means job seekers can’t find someone to look after the little ones or have to hitch a ride with a friend, they need to consider rescheduling the job interview to a more convenient time.
Refuse to Complete the Job Application
Anyone reading this, scratching their head and wondering why someone would refuse to fill out a job application: it does happen. Generally job seekers who feel they should not have to waste their time with this step in the job interview process are either unaware of standard protocol or out of touch with reality.
Granted high-level executive positions may forego this step; however, for the rest of the rank and file, filling out a job application goes part and parcel with getting a job. That means that job seekers need to be prepared to fill in the blanks, if requested, by bringing along a copy of their resume and a pen.
Do Something Distracting During the Job Interview
Yes, this is a very broad category and can mean different things to different recruiters and hiring managers. However, some of the more obvious distractions which job seekers should avoid during the job interview process are chewing gum, eating food, or playing with their hair.
While some behaviors are totally avoidable, others generally appear as an outcropping of nervous energy. Job seekers who feel their nerves getting the better of them should try taking a few deep breaths or asking the interviewer for a drink of water to calm their nerves.
The whole idea is that when job seekers go through the job interview process, they need to be on their best behavior (as, of course, should the interviewer). This will help them to avoid these job interview mistakes.
