There are hundreds of ways to ruin an interview, but here are 15 that are dear to me, or that candidates have pulled on me in the past.
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Show up late
- It’s inexcusable. Drive there the day before to make sure you know you can get there in time.
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Be unprepared
- Your first assignment at this company is to show up prepared. Don’t fail it.
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Smoke, or smell like smoke
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Have bad breath or body odor
- Nobody wants to smell your smells. Eradicate them.
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Shake hands like a fish
- Don’t shake hands with a death grip, but don’t wuss out, either.
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Come underdressed
- If you find yourself asking “Do I have to do X?” for the interview, play it safe and do it. That means wear a suit.
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Speak ill of anyone, especially past employers
- If you complain at the interview, you’ll complain all day at work, too. No boss wants to deal with that.
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Complain; discuss your problems
- Your boss has his own job-related problems to deal with. He doesn’t want to hear about yours.
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Bring up your needs, such as money or benefits
- Your interview is all about what you can do for the company, not what they can do for you.
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Lie
- You’ll be found out, and you’ll be worried about it until you are.
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Appear uninterested
- No boss wants to hire someone who doesn’t care about the job she’s going to be doing.
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Fail to ask your own questions
- The best way to show that you care, and that you have a mind for business, is to ask your own questions about what you’ve discussed during the interview.
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Appear desparate
- Enthusiasm is one thing. Desperation is another.
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Leave your phone on
- There’s no way you could be expecting a call that’s more important than this interview.
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Cut the interview short
- Allocate adequate time for an interview. A longer interview is always better, so plan for the good. Don’t try to squeeze in an interview on a long lunch hour. Make sure your kids are adequately covered and you don’t have to say “Sorry, I have to leave, my sitter can only keep my kids ’til 4:00.”