11 Things You Should Never Do At A Job

Interview
September 23, 2015
by
Henry Thornalley

Many opportunities are won and lost based solely on an interview, it is therefore
important that you interview well in order to succeed. The following points will prevent
you from falling in to some common interview pitfalls.

Arrive Late

It may seem obvious but still people continue to arrive late for job interviews. If you are
meeting face to face then plan your route and allow a decent amount of extra time to
get there in case of traffic jams etc., if you arrive earlier than planned then spend the
time further preparing for your interview. If you are taking part in a telephone or video
interview then make sure you answer at the arranged time and allow for the interview
to overrun, remove all distractions so you can focus solely on the interview.

Demonstrate a Lack of Research

Always thoroughly research the company, never assume that you know what industries
they work in and how many people they employ because you will be easily caught out.
If you know who will be interviewing you then research them, LinkedIn is great for this,
people like to have their egos massaged. Compliment them on their extensive career
history or a particular project they worked on, it shows that you know your stuff and
that you are a thorough individual.
Curse or Use Offensive Language

It may seem clear that this could cost you an opportunity but it happens more often
than you think and its never okay. Even if the interview is relatively informal, perhaps
with a friend or associate still keep to a professional interview standard.

Wear Inappropriate Attire

Dress to impress, always ensure that you arrive for an interview immaculately turned
out. Anything less and it could indicate a lack of attention to detail or even enthusiasm
to be selected for the role. Some interviewers take appearances to mean more than
others. It has been known for interviewers, after an interview, to check the backs of
peoples shoes as they walk away to see if the whole shoe or just the normally visible
top and sides have been polished.

Use Negative Body Language

Never sit with your arms crossed and staring into space. Always try to maintain a
healthy level of eye contact with the person conducting the interview, dont stare them
out! Greet your interviewer with a smile and a firm handshake, depart with an equally
firm handshake. Sit upright with a straight back throughout the interview, never slouch
in your chair, a good posture helps you to project your voice clearly and gives a
confident impression.

Mumble or Talk Too Fast

An interview can be a nerve racking time and interviewing believe it or not is a skill in
itself. Failure to project your voice clearly or speaking too quickly because you are
nervous can cost you the job within the first minute. Whilst an interviewer will expect
you to be slightly nervous it is also a test as to how well you work under pressure. Take
deep breathes and slow yourself down, if you find yourself rushing or mumbling take a
few seconds to compose yourself.

Talk Negatively About Your Current or Previous Employer

A Job interview is about you selling your skills and yourself to a future employer, leave
all negativity about your current role or previous positions at the door. If asked why you
are looking for a new role and the reason is because you think your boss is a complete
idiot, dont mention it, simply say that you have outgrown your current role and you are
looking for a fresh challenge.

Discuss Financials or Holidays

Far too many people are so desperate to rush to the financials that it is the first
question they ask, think what that says about you. It bluntly shows that you only care
about the money or taking holiday before you have even been offered the job. Yes it
might be the only thing you care about or you might be going for a tough target driven,
money motivated sales job, but think of more intelligent questions to ask. Leave the
negotiations until asked by the interviewer or when you receive a job offer.
Not Bring a Copy of Your CV

Never assume that the manager or hiring manager has a paper copy of your CV at the
interview, they are busy people and may forget. They may also bring along additional
colleagues at the last minute who might not have a copy. Be prepared, show your
organisational skills and bring along additional copies to hand out at the interview. If
you do this, make sure there are no differences between the CV you applied with and
the one you hand out!

Come Across as Arrogant

There is a fine line to tread between confidence and arrogance and this line is easily
crossed in an interview where you are trying to sell yourself. By all means come across
as confident and lead with examples of your skills, provide examples of your leadership
qualities but be careful not to go off topic and brag about yourself.

Stray From the Question

When people are nervous they tend to either not talk at all or talk non-stop. I have
known senior level managers, skilled individuals earning six figure salaries to miss out
on jobs because they went off on a tangent during the interview. Always keep the
question in mind, answer it confidently, preferably with an example that allows you to
further demonstrate your point and then stop! Have the confidence to know that you
answered the question succinctly and correctly, do not go on to provide further
examples unless asked
 ogbonna chukwuka
this is a nice one. I enjoyed reading it.

1 month ago
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sundaramoorthi p

Hi henry sir, thanks lot 4 giving valuable suggestions

1 month ago
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Dottie Bowling
Excellent list of interview errors to avoid.

28 days ago
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Henry Thornalley
Thank you Dottie.

28 days ago
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Bob Sacco
Great information that many people will ignore, unfortunately.

22 days ago

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Pranab Sarma
Good information. Easy to follow.

21 days ago
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saad mehmood
Thankyou good information.

20 days ago
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Rodney Smith
Thank you for the Information, very good, but Bob is right people will Ignore some of them,
 20 days ago
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ZAIN ALI BUTT

Thankyou soo much s ir im very very thnkfull to u

20 days ago
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waqas ahmed
Hi!
Have a good day.

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cell phone:00971 (0) 524433910
visa status:Visit visa
Location:Dubai (U.A.E)

20 days ago
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Rick Shaffer
You meant, "11 things you never should do..."

19 days ago
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Joe Kellogg
Being a hiring manager, I would only say that about half of this list is accurate. Arrogance, in
an appropriate amount, when backed by performance, is highly desirable. I've had
interviewees 'research' me and my company and try to spin their pitch accordingly. I'm much
more impressed by someone who can think on their feet. I won't detail the rest, but these
are two big ones.

19 days ago
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Vijay K Gupta
Good and useful article .

19 days ago
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Mutasem AbuShahla
Nice article

19 days ago
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jamal berrish

hi how are you

I am (submersible Pump Cable Specialist)
and looking for a job can you please help me

best regards
jamal berrish

libya

jberrish6@gmail.com

19 days ago

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Randy Norris
I don't think I would be very happy at a place where the interviewer checked the back of my
shoes to see how/whether they were polished.
If they are THAT much into appearances, then maybe that is all they are entitled to.

PS: Concerning negative experiences with interviews, one of the worst I ever had was with a
major aerospace corporation in San Diego.

The interviewer asked me what kinds of sports and music I liked, and then explained "We're
asking you these questions to see how well you'll conform to the group."

It was all I could do to keep from throwing up on the spot.

19 days ago
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Taofeeq Ayodele
Very nice one!

19 days ago
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Gafoor cherukappalli
interviewer also is a human.

18 days ago
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Luca Guarnieri
Basic tips...

18 days ago
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Adam Hall
I have found and I think others will agree, you interview better when you want the job but
don't need the job. Desperation for employment makes you not ask the questions that you
might later wish you had asked, or you without knowing it come across less confident. I
know more people who scored the great job because they were mentally more in the game
than those who were better qualified.

18 days ago
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Alejandro Espinoza
Basic tips, unfortunately some people forget them....

18 days ago
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 Michele De Benedictis
Interesting!! Thanks!!

18 days ago
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Mohamed EL-Demerdash
very useful, thanks

18 days ago
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Sandro Batista Dias

I'm looking for a job.
Nice article.
Thanks.

18 days ago
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Odusanya Ayotunde
What about taking a little alcohol as a nerve calmer?

17 days ago

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Trey Walker
I've been to several interviews in the last few months and just about everyone of them
asked my about by expectations in a salary. I shared what I'm currently making and said I'd
like to be in a particular range. I think that killed it right there, and not in a good way. What's
the most polite way to tell a potential employer you'd like to wait to discuss salary?

17 days ago
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sangkar subramaniam
Very useful, Thanks....

17 days ago
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Rick Halseth CTech.

Pretty standard stuff. Not much has changed in 30 some years.

16 days ago
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Wes Bladen
 # Trey Walker...I read your comment about salary expectations and wanted to share some
advice for what it is worth. When you are asked about salary, I would share where you are
currently

(100K base plus 15% bonus for example) followed by:

"I am looking at the overall opportunity, meaning the company (overall market reputation
and financial stability), the personal opportunity (a good immediate fit and a strong growth
path for advancement) and last but not least a position that will challenge me to be better
than I am today (I want to learn new skill sets)."

If you are still pressed after this answer regarding money, I would simply add "I believe this
is a great company and that you and XYZ company will be competitive when it comes to
compensation."

Let me know what you think of this e-mail to you Trey...

Wes Bladen
BrightWell Talent
Executive Recruiter

16 days ago
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Henry Thornalley
Hi Wes, I think "I believe this is a great company and that you and XYZ company will be
competitive when it comes to compensation." is a spot on way of dealing with that question.
Great advice!

16 days ago
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Stephen Dunn, PMP

 Do you want to work for a boss that is so unprepared that they bring you in for an interview
and don't have a copy of your resume? Or one that plays a 'testing game' to see if you are
prepared?

16 days ago
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Henry Grohman
As for bringing copies of your resume, I would agree if the hiring manager doesn't have a
copy of your resume that is a bad sign. However, multiple times I have interviewed on site
where a manager from a different department who has been asked to interview me as a
second or third opinion does not have my resume because he got asked last minutute or left
it at his desk. I generally do not perceive this as a negative as people in my industry tend to
be way overbooked. Having an extra copy is a courtesy to them and is one more chance to
make a good impression. Generally I don't think it is an intentional test but the reality of a
busy workplace.

16 days ago
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Mohamed Roshdy
many thanks i looking for jobe

16 days ago
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siva sankaran
Dear sir,
I want to work to there .please arrange a job to me.
contact:siva_eng14@yahoo.co.in
 15 days ago
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Mark Kinkade
As a person that does a lot of recruiting, if I am interested in the candidate after the first
interview and ask about salary it is simply to discover whether to continue or not. If your
salary expectations are not in line with the salary range the company is willing to pay, then
its a waste of time for both parties and it is not going to be a fit regardless of qualifications
and skill set. My advice is be honest and tell them a range you would be comfortable with. If
they really like you and want to hire you, most companies have some room to negotiate. If
the person doesn't want to tell me a salary they would be comfortable at, I am generally
inclined to end any further discussions.

13 days ago

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Cooper Putterill
Blatant mistakes mentioned here & if you have done this, well, thats a deserved no......

12 days ago
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Odusanya Ayotunde
Waiting too long during interview makes me extremely nervous

12 days ago
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Fatma Al Zaabi
s

11 days ago
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Henry Grohman
To follow-up on Mark, I have found it difficult to not give a salary. What is important is to
have done your homework and know at what salary range you would be willing to accept the
job. And if you are looking for much more than you now make, have good data to support it
whether it be cost-of-living or info from Glassdoor or similar site that indicates what the job
pays. There use to be an old rule-of-thumb that you should be looking for a 15% raise in
order to change jobs, this obviously only applies when you have a present job.

11 days ago
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Radivoje Cvorovic
True 100%

2 days ago
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mohammad asif
many thanks i looking for jobe

2 days ago
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Travis Coleman
Manners and common courtesy are important in all of life, not just in interviews. I think
number 12 is be yourself and be honest.

2 days ago
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Bruno Herbert Costa

This article helped me remember things I need to know for my objectives. I appreciate the
post.

2 days ago
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Rajendren SAMSUNG C&T

 i want to work to there please arrange a job to me material controller 21 yrs exp D.M.E.mail
id anap_rajendran@yahoo.co.in

2 days ago
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Lal Khan
Well said

2 days ago

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Carolyn Priestley
I am surprised anyone (candidate or recruiter) would waste time on an interview if the salary
on offer had not already been discussed and agreed at least in principal!

2 days ago
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Herna Saputra, AMd.

I have waste time two weeks for get information goal or not, and then that is very long time
for me because only high expected salary and I have experience.

1 day ago
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Amy Toncray
Regarding the salary question - I ask it in my initial screening call and I ask for a reason: I do
not want to waste your time as a candidate nor do I want to waste my management's time
in getting to the end and finding out we cannot make things happen. Everyone should be
able to answer the question "What is your current salary and what are your expectations
when considering a new position?" If not, you have homework to do.

1 day ago
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Adam Hall
I don't like being asked what my current salary is because it should have no bearing on what
skills I bring to the table or the level of responsability the new position demands. What if I an
currently being under paid by market standards? I will do my homework ahead of time and
for a reasonable range for the position, industry and location.

1 day ago
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Reggie Maneli
Please check my CV,my email reginald_maneli@yahoo.com

1 day ago
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Hilaire KANKO
Very interesting advises

1 day ago
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Saeid Abolfazli
@Adam Hall, I think the reason employer ask about current salary is to gain better
negotiation power and also get a better estimate on the salary to offer. If your current salary
is more than what they have in their budget, there is no point of offering you a lower paid
job. However, you may tell them that your current company could not fulfil your financial
desire but you join because of passion to the job (so it won't ruin your credits). Tell them that
your current salary would not be a good indication of your value you have and you can bring
to the company. Or you may show them the new skills or certifications you obtained that can
help you get a better offer. During interview, you can demonstrate and give them
justification why should they pay you more. Does it make sense?

1 day ago
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Cristiano Braga Greniuk

greniuk@hotmail.com

23 hours ago
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Joe Crumzs
I think that the employer should state in the job description what is the salary being offered.
If the employer is fishing around, trying to find the cheapest employee, it goes without
saying, you get what you paid for. Someone that will accept a lower salary, will sooner or
later search for a better paying job. Which I think is stupid in that the cost to the employer in
finding a new candidate will have paid for offering a better salary to the employee in the first
place. Also, I don't think that it is anybody's business to ask a candidate what is his current
salary. If a recruiter asked me that question, I would ask the recruiter to reveal his salary
before I revealed mine. In any business transaction, first you decide whether you would like
to buy the merchandise. Then you make an offer and haggle to agree on a price. Anyone
that isn't capable of doing this, has no business sense. People haggle when they buy a house
or a car. Why wouldn't you haggle when hiring a person, which over a 40 year career would
cost at least 2 million dollars?

18 hours ago
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Devendra Aher PMP

As on employers part, anyone would like to know the details of candidate and that goes with
mentioning salary range by company in JD on many websites. So they could figure out if
candidate fits the bill. Although many companies shy away from disclosing the range on
their career websites. But it helps not just employer but also employee to decide on it. It is
essential step in recruitment and very first as it's the only end result of your passion/skills.
It's the raw fact of any employment, trade of salary and skills.