So much of the job search is out of your control. The interview is one of the few aspects of the job search you can control. The interview is a selection process for which you can practice and prepare. There are plenty of unusual horror stories committed by job hunters. The following is a laundry list of the most common things that are deal breakers:
1. Arriving late to the interview or arriving too early
2. Showing up with your own beverages
3. Lack of showering, shaving, washing hair, washing face, brushing teeth, cleaning nails, etc.
4. Wearing too much perfume or aftershave; body odor
5. Dressing inappropriately
6. Giving a limp or a bone crushing handshake
7. Slouching or poor posture
8. Nervous mannerisms
9. Taking too many notes
10. Yawning or having inadequate sleep
11. Lacking goals or a career plan
12. Failing to articulate clearly and concisely
13. Speaking too generally without using concrete examples
14. Demonstrating low self-confidence
15. Mediocre educational preparation or accomplishment
16. Being negative, pessimistic or making excuses
17. Unwilling to start at the bottom
18. Lighting up or smelling like you just had a smoke
19. Lying or bragging
20. Forgetting the name of the interviewer
21. Wearing a Bluetooth or using a cell phone
22. Asking no questions, too many questions or unintelligent questions; not answering the question
23. Interrupting the interviewer or failing to listen
24. Missing energy and enthusiasm
25. Focusing too much on salary and benefits
26. Lacking maturity, tact or polish
27. Inability to relate education/education/skills to the job
28. Bad-mouthing former employers
29. Weak eye contact with the interviewer
30. Failing to demonstrate a sincere interest in the job
31. Being indecisive
32. Talking too much or talking too little
33. Over-sharing personal problems or health issues
34. Lacking knowledge about the job, employer or field
35. Announcing radical ideas
36. Failing to sell yourself and impress the interviewer
37. Forgetting to bring extra copies of your resume, references, writing sample and/or portfolio, etc.
38. Forgetting what you wrote on the resume
39. Bringing someone with you to the interview
40. Chewing gum, tobacco, your nails, hair or a pen
41. Taking a seat before the interviewer does
42. Getting defensive, emotional or crying
43. Being rude to the receptionist or anyone else
44. Coming across as too rehearsed or insincere
45. Sounding desperate
46. Watching the clock
47. Taking over the interview
48. Being overly serious or not serious enough
49. Failing to ask for the job
50. Lacking expression of appreciation or gratitude
Copyright, 2012
Dr. Thomas J. Denham
Careers In Transition LLC
Published on Friday, February 3, 2012