As the unemployment rate climbs to 9.9%, we can assume that there are over 30 million people in the United States job market, and some of them are looking for the very same job as you. While many of us focus on what to do during the interview process, few of us pay attention to what NOT to do. It is easy to get nervous and make very serious blunders that can cost you this job and many others if your interviewer is an important person in your industry. Regardless of your nerves, attitude, or terrible-horrible-no good-very bad day, you should avoid these Cardinal Sins of Interviewing, because some people will not.
1) Inappropriate Attire: Wrinkles and stains are the least of your worries. Just because you are wearing your lucky undergarments does not mean your potential employer should have to see them. If you think that a low-cut shirt or a too-tight top will get you the job, you had better be applying for a night life job. It is disrespectful to your employer, male or female, if you wear something provocative. They will think that you do not take the company or the position seriously, and will be offended that you assumed your bare-it-all attitude would make a positive difference. Show some respect for yourself and your interviewer and dress conservatively.
2) Flirtation and Harassment: Be friendly, smile, laugh politely at their jokes, but be careful not to go too far. Anything that could be misconstrued as flirting or sexual harassment is a recipe for failure. You are a twenty-four year old man and your interviewer turns out to be the most gorgeous woman in the world-deal with it. Same goes for female interviewees. If you want to get the job, and you want to be shown daily respect, do not put yourself out there in an unprofessional way, and do not flirt just to get hired!
3) Profanity and Getting Too Comfortable: You may find that you get along really well with your interviewee, and you envision the two of you enjoying beers during happy hour. Stop. This will lead you to become far too comfortable with your interviewer, which may cause you to slip into colloquialisms and profanity. Just because you are explaining something in a lively fashion does not mean you need to drop any four letter expletives.
4) Badmouthing Past Employers: Do you get a long-term girlfriend by bad-mouthing your ex to them on the first date? An interview is very similar; bad-mouthing an ex-employer can create negative tension and make you both extremely uncomfortable. Additionally, it is always a much smaller world than you think, and they may be the college roommate of the object of your verbal-bashing. When it doubt, leave that part out.
5) Talking About Family/Pets/Personal Life: Many employers these days know that they can probably get any one they want to fill any given position. If they are going to be working with you on a daily basis, they probably want to know that the two of you will get along. Showing that you mesh with the company and driveling on about your fiancé, spouse, children, or pets are two very different things. The fact that your son goes to Harvard and your Yorkshire Terrier just had a lot of puppies is not going to help you get the job. Discuss hobbies, likes, and other wholesome topics, but try to avoid delving too far into your personal life. It can make you seem desperately dependent. If asked, either subtlety or directly, be honest. It is otherwise best to leave irrelevant personal information out.
6) Incessantly Talking: This falls in line with number 5; keep the information on point. If you are asked to describe a project, or a task, draw a picture with your words as concisely as possible, but with appropriate details. If your interviewer can hardly get a word in edgewise, you are probably not making a very good impression.
7) One Word Answers: Answer questions fully and honestly, no matter how nervous you may be. Try to keep them short, but if you let your nervousness or uncertainty take over, you will end up responding with a lot of “yes, sirs.” The quicker the interview, the less of an impression you have made on your interviewer. Try to answer questions with information that sets you apart from other potential hires, but not in a negative way.
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