Fifty Ways to Leave Your Interviewer… Cold
The biggest mistakes we see:
- Arriving late, or more than 10 minutes early
- Poor resume: see Resumes 101
- Show up without a resume
- Poor handshake
- Poor eye contact
- Bad breath, body odour, unshaven
- Disorganized / disheveled / dirty clothes or shoes
- Carrying too much “stuff” (coat / handbag / briefcase / laptop)
- Loose tie / stained tie / unpressed shirt / creased suit
- Inability to answer the question “tell me about yourself” in a concise soundbite (1 minute or up to 3-5 minutes, depending upon the interviewer)
- Interrupting the interviewer
- Sitting down before the interviewer
- Spreading out on their desk without permission
- Not answering the question that was asked
- Rambling answer
- Answers that are too brief / one word / “yes” / “no”
- Answers in the first 10 minutes that are too long (over 45 seconds) or too convoluted
- Mobile phone rings audibly
- Worse, you answer it!!
- Negative comments about any former or current boss, company, or coworker
- Too uptight to smile or laugh
- Swearing
- Making any off-colour, sexist, or discriminatory remark
- Telling a joke without being invited to
- Not having a joke ready to go if needed
- Asking about benefits, salary, vacation
- Failing to ask good questions about the company, the role, or the boss
- Failing to have properly prepared
- Sharing any confidential information from any source
- Excessive slang, poor grammar
- Talking too fast
- Talking too slow
- Not asking for the job
- Inability to describe why you’re interested in the job
- Inability to describe why you’re qualified for the job
- Disclosing any prior instance of poor judgement
- Suggesting that you take the job less than seriously
- Not having any interests outside of the job
- Discussing politics, race, religion, sexual preference, country of origin, or that of anyone else
- Inability to articulate a clear value proposition
- Inability to answer straightforward questions about your resume accurately and consistently
- Dirty briefcase or laptop
- Too much jewellery
- Not committing to future meetings
- Asking third interview questions on the first interview
- Asking for too much money or responsibility – or not enough!
- Chewing gum
- Stinking of cigarettes
- Dandruff / grooming issues
- Obviously nervous – clicking a pen repeatedly
- No demonstrated career strategy or ambition
Did we mention not asking for the job? The number one thing you can do is to tell someone you want the job, and explain why you should have it.