7 Interview Mistakes that Will Murder Your Chances

There is no such thing as the perfect interview. You cannot show up and assume that you are going to be so great that the employer will literally throw money in your face hoping that the sea of green convinces you to work for their company. You are going to make some mistakes, but if you have a good interview, many of these mistakes will be overlooked.

The same cannot be said about the following interview mistakes. If you make these errors, you are probably not getting the job.

Mistakes that Get Arrested for Interview Homicide

• Poor Dress

You have all of 1 second to make a first impression. If you show up in your best Affliction shirt with jeans you found in a garbage can, you’re not going to get the job.

• Showing Up Late

Calling early and letting the interviewer know that you are stuck in traffic may allow you to salvage your interview. Maybe. Showing up late without proper notice or a good excuse is a definite interview killer.

• Negativity

It doesn’t matter how crappy your last job was. If you talk about how much you hated your last boss or your last coworker or your last job, you’re not getting this job.

• Not Asking Questions

Applicants that don’t ask questions are not getting the job. Ever. The answer to “Do you have any questions” should never, ever be “no.”

• No Company/Product Knowledge

The answer to “What do you know about our company?” is not “Nothing! Why don’t you tell me all about it!” Companies want to hire people that want to work for them, not people that want any job they can get.

• Zero Personality

Showing no energy, frowning, acting like you are too good for the interview – these will all give you absolutely no shot at winning the job. You need to be engaging, happy, interactive and likeable.

• Bad Body Language

Slouching without eye contact and shaking your legs as you cross your arms is guaranteed to get you no job. Proper posture, good eye contact, etc., are necessary if you want to be employed.

Avoiding the Killers

There are a lot of mistakes that can harm your interview, but these mistakes will kill it. Do your best to be the best interviewer you can be and you are far more likely to get the job.

Take Away Interview Tips

• Avoid these interview killers.

Bad Interview Body Language Part 2

Yesterday we took a look at examples of how bad body language can ruin your chances of a successful job interview. Today we will review additional examples of bad body language so that you know what to avoid if you hope to get the job.

Additional Examples of Bad Body Language

• Constant Fidgeting

Biting your nails, knocking your fingers against the table, scratching your rear – these are all signs that you are nervous, and while companies understand nervousness at the job interviews, they do not want to see it so blatantly. Fidgeting is a sign of severe nervousness, and severe nervousness can struggle in the workplace. Try to keep your tics to a minimum.

• Childish Body Language

Some types of body language makes us look young and unprofessional. A good example is sitting on your hands. Sitting on your hands is something that children do when they are nervous. You want to show that you are a responsible adult, so you need to keep your hands in front of you on the table.

• Rolling Your Eyes

Occasionally you will be asked a question that seems strange. Never roll your eyes at an interviewer. You should treat the interviewer, and every question that they ask, with a considerable amount of respect if you hope to get their vote for your employment.

• Poor Handshake

The initial handshake is part of your first impression, so it needs to be good. Your handshake should not be weak as though you are quaking in fear, and you need to do your best to keep your hand from being too sweaty. You do not want the interviewer to know how nervous you are for the interview.

Body language plays a major role in your job interview. It is important that you avoid any of these negative body language behaviors to improve your chances of landing the job.

Take Away Interview Tips

• Body language plays a huge role in your success.
• Refrain from bad body language.

7 Funny Ways to Ruin Your Job Interview

People are not perfect. Some people are far less perfect than others. Some of those people like to bring their imperfections to the job interview. There are a lot of subtle and small ways you can ruin your job interview chances. There are also a lot of hilarious and terrible ways to ruin them. Below are some examples of the hilarious ways that people have tanked their job interviews.

Bad Interview Experiences

-          Asking For Bus Money

Your employer isn’t there to make change. If you don’t have all of your bus money on hand from the beginning, chances are that preparation and foresight are not your strong point.

-          Religious… Intolerance?

Religion plays no part in the workplace. Don’t ask the interviewer if the employer subscribes to “Christian values” and it’s probably not a good idea to say that you live for God first and your employer second, no matter how much it is true.

-          Personal Information

There is a limit to how much the employer cares about your personal life. Don’t tell the employer about the time you peed yourself in the job interview, don’t start crying, don’t tell them how much you desperately need to find work to survive.

-          Answering Your Cell Phone

Your cell phone shouldn’t ring. It should be off at all times. If it does ring, “Do you mind if I get this?” is absolutely not the right response.

-          Telling Them About Your Real Self

When asked questions about yourself, your answers should only be about your professional history. That you are single and have 3 cats is not part of the job interview.

-          Asking About Perks and Vacations

Employers don’t want to hire someone whose only goal is to not work. Wait until you are offered the job before you worry about benefits and luxuries.

-          Being a Jerk

It doesn’t matter who you are or where you came from. No one wants jerks. If you’re going to act like a jerk at any point in your job interview, you’re probably not as good an employee as you think you are.

Additional Job Interview Mistakes

The Twitter account for @InterviewGoofs has a number of different examples of ways people screw job interviews. While you’re there, don’t forget to sign up with @InterviewTips for additional information on how to be successful in your job interview.

Take Away Interview Tips

• Job interviews are hard. Don’t make them any harder by ruining your chances from the beginning.

10 Common Job Search Mistakes for Graduates

College graduates need to enter the workforce. College graduates have little experience applying for real jobs. College graduates make a lot of mistakes. College graduates need to get better. If only there were a website dedicated to helping graduates find jobs in today’s difficult economy. Oh wait, there is!

Below are the ten most common graduate job search mistakes. Don’t do these. We’re serious. They’re called mistakes for a reason.

Job Search Mistakes

• Listing High School Jobs on Resumes – You would not believe how little the employer cares that you worked at McDonalds.
• No Networking – Networking is a great way to find a job. If you want to enter the corporate world, you need to get used to the idea of sucking up to corporate professionals.
• Being Shy – Employers want go-getters. Don’t be intimidated by your interviewers or hiring managers simply because they have more work experience than you. Act like you have been working in the corporate world for years.
• Applying Everywhere Without Looking – If you send in two resumes to the same place because you didn’t bother to keep track of where you applied, you are not going to get the job.
• Using a Basic Resume – Each resume should be tailored to the job you are applying for, even if they have some similarities.
• “Doing Your Own Thing” – A lot of graduates are under the impression that it is acceptable to look for an employer that will allow them to express their individuality. It’s not.
• Poor Interview Practice/Preparation – Learning isn’t over just because you graduated. You will need to prepare thoroughly for your job interview.
• Only Using the Internet – Don’t just use the Internet to search for jobs and network. Go to events, meet people. Get out there.
• Not Following Up – Don’t be afraid to follow up with employers with whom you have sent you resume. Sometimes resumes get lost in the shuffle.
• Looking For the Perfect Job – You are a recent graduate with little to no job searching experience. Expect to work hard for a few years or more before you start searching for your dream job. Just work in the field you are interested in and see if you can move up from there.

Avoid these common graduate mistakes and you are bound to improve your chances of finding a job.

Take Away Interview Tips

• Always be professional.
• Avoid common mistakes.

Additional Links

• Yahoo Hot jobs Article

7 Resume Red Flags

Hiring managers have a limited amount of time to go through an almost unlimited amount of resumes. A single “red flag” and your resume will immediately be placed in the “No” pile. You don’t want to be in the “No” pile. The “No” pile usually means you won’t get the job. It’s science.

How do you avoid the “No” pile? You avoid “red flags” that tell hiring managers “Hey, this resume is probably not worth bothering with. Don’t bother with it.” Below are several things that red flag your resume.

Things Not to Do

• Decorate Your Resume

Your resume should simply be your resume. No smells, no strange colors, no fancy fonts. If your resume looks too artsy, or smells too much like the hiring manager’s grandmother, it is probably going to be ignored.

• Lame Words

If your resume has a lot of boring statements, like “Excellent Communication Skills,” it is going to quickly be ignored. Cliché’s or boring words are an immediate sign that you don’t have enough accomplishments in your resume.

• LOL Email Address

Does your email address make you look like a fool? Is it luvs2jognude@emailaddress.com? Always supply an email address that is professional and speaks to your character.

• Block Paragraphs

Resumes now should be written in a format that looks attractive to the eye, usually in the form of bullet points. There are occasionally times where a resume paragraph (/writing-your-resume-bullet-points-vs-paragraphs) might be useful, but even in those rare instances, you should not have some long, blocky paragraph that makes it hard to scan.

• It’s Greasy

If you sent in a paper resume, your resume should be clean and neat, as though freshly printed. It should be without bends or wrinkles or smears. Ideally you should send the paper in a large manila envelope, but if you must send it in a standard sized envelope, try to make the folds perfectly even. Sloppy folding is also a red flag.

• You List Ten Jobs

If you are listing every job you have ever held in your resume, that is a huge red flag. Resumes should only contain the latest and greatest jobs, and only two or three will suffice.

• Your Objective is Useless

It is arguable that you need an objective in the first place. Many working professionals remove the objective altogether, or replace it with a professional summary. However, if you do have an objective, remember that the objective statement is the first thing the hiring manager sees. If it is poor, such as “To make money and work at your company,” you are immediately flagged.

Don’t Red Flag Your Resume

Any error in your resume is going to be a red flag to the hiring manager. There was a time where employers would look at your resume in full, so that a small error did not necessary negate your chances. These days employers scan your resume, and fi they notice any of the above red flags, chances are you will not be considered for the job.

Take Away Interview Tips

• Make every word in your resume count.
• Don’t make it too fancy.
• Consider your objective statement.

Additional Links

• Yahoo list of resume red flags



20 Common Job Interview Mistakes

US News came out with a recent article about some of the world’s most common job interview mistakes. Read it for a nice list of some of the common mistakes people make during their job interviews. Here are 20 mistakes compiled by Everyday Interview Tips to avoid at your job interview.

1. Apologizing for lack of experience.
2. Not researching the company.
3. Coming in unprepared for job interview questions.
4. Showing up late for your interview.
5. Answering a question with a question.
6. Failing to smile throughout the interview.
7. Crossing your arms.
8. Shaking your leg.
9. Muttering or speaking too softly.
10. Staying quiet and expecting the interviewer to do most of the talking.
11. Overemphasizing work history or experiences that are not impressive.
12. Lying and getting caught in a lie.
13. Trying to tell a story without considering the story first.
14. Complaining about your previous jobs.
15. Slouching in your chair.
16. Forgetting to thank the interviewers.
17. Making sarcastic jokes.
18. Supplying personal information.
19. Letting your cell phone ring or vibrate during the interview.
20. Not having any questions for the interviewer.

The above list represents just a small sample of the types of common interview mistakes that occur at almost every job interview. There are so many ways you can make an error, but despite the vast number of possible errors, almost all of them are completely preventable with the right preparation and decent knowledge of what constitutes a good interview. That is why it is so important to understand job interviews and practice thoroughly beforehand.

Take Away Interview tips

• Avoid common interview mistakes.
• Read websites (like Everyday Interview Tips!) to understand the job interview process.
• Practice, practice, practice.

Free PDF – Bad Job Interview Questions to Ask Available for Download

It wouldn’t be “Everyday Interview Tips” if we didn’t bring you new and interesting job interview information every day. Yet sometimes a simple blog post is not enough. That is why every month we supply you with free job interview, resume, cover letter and job search tip guides to give you more in depth techniques for finding a job in today’s difficult economy.

This month we have a new free PDF titled “10 Bad Questions to Ask At Your Job Interview.” Within this guide you will find information about:

• What makes a bad job interview question.
• What are some of the worst job interview questions.
• What job interview questions to ask sound acceptable, but are still bad questions.

“10 Bad Questions to Ask At Your Job Interview” is designed to help you learn the questions you should not ask at your job interview so that you can come up with the best possible questions to help improve your job interview chances. This guide is a useful tool for all applicants, from recent graduates to seasoned professionals.

Get Your Free Bad Job Interview Questions to Ask PDF

Download your free copy of “10 Bad Questions to Ask At Your Job Interview.”

For those that are new to the site, don’t forget to sign up in the box on the left to get free interview tips delivered directly to your email. In the meantime, bookmark www.everydayinterviewtips.com for useful information on how to succeed at your interview and improve your chances of finding a great new job.

What Kind of Humor Can You Use at the Job Interview?

Oh man. You are hilarious. Hilarious. Easily one of the funniest people we’ve ever met. You should do standup comedy. Maybe write a book entitled “The Hilarious Comedy of Me.” There is no one funnier than you. No one. Chris Rock? More like Chris Pebble! Dane Cook? More like Dane Microwave Meal! You invented hilarity, and if life were fair you’d be paid millions for the joy you bring to the faces of men and women everywhere.

Here’s the thing though… You need to not really make these jokes at the job interview. We’ll be the first to tell you how much we laughed at that ingenious “Yo Mamma” joke you said during dinner that one time. The problem is that your interviewer’s mom? Yeah, she really is that fat. Her stretch pants actually do span the globe. She can literally be seen from space. So if you try to run that joke at your job interview, you’re not going to get hired. Them’s the breaks, kid.

Hahaha, You Are So Funny! Do You Write Your Own Material?

It is important to be personable at job interviews. The more you are liked as a person, the more willing the interviewer is to overlook your doubts. Some people are even hired on personality alone.

Humor is one of the best ways to seem likeable. The problem is that the best humor involves:

• Complaining about things in life
• Making fun of someone in a humorous way

That’s a problem. Complaints should be left out of the job interview. Complaining about something as simple as parking can make you appear negative and whiny. In addition, making fun of people may be acceptable when you know your friends understand your humor, but a large portion of the corporate world is dense and humorless. They will not understand your jokes, and take your gentle ribbings as insults.

The only job interview humor that is acceptable is if you poke fun at yourself. Spill your coffee on your tie during the interview? It is acceptable to make a few jokes at your own expense. That’s it. Humor should be left out of your job interview unless you are making jokes about yourself, where they can’t be misunderstood as an insult.

Take Away Interview Tips

• Don’t make jokes.
• You are probably not that funny.
• Seriously, you are probably not that funny.
• The only acceptable jokes are those that poke fun at you. Never others.

Can I Text Message the Interviewer a Thank You or Add Them as a Friend on Facebook?

Technology is a wonderful thing. Computers allow you to perform complicated actions at a moment’s notice. Mp3 players allow you to listen to an unlimited amount of music on the go. If you want to teleport to another dimension, there’s probably an app for that.

However, the one problem with technology is that those that use it often mistakenly believe that everyone deems every aspect of it acceptable. That is not the case, and one of the main places you will see technology rear its ugly head is during a job interview.

Don’t Overuse Technology

Current college seniors have had the Internet, cell phones, and various high tech pieces of technology throughout the majority of their lives. They have been inexpensive and publicly accessible since these seniors were old enough to use it. It is part of their culture – a culture that doesn’t remember when the only computer colors were grayish sepia and white, and when using an ink printer involved a loud screeching noise and 20 minutes of your life per page.

If you are a recent graduate that has completed a job interview, it is important to remember that just because a technology is widely used, doesn’t mean it’s appropriate. Here are some examples of real things applicants have done after job interviews:

• Added their Interviewers on Facebook – Some young workers have thought it was appropriate to add those they met at the interview on Facebook immediately after the interview was over. Don’t. You are not “friends” and your interviewer does not want to see a tagged photo of you giving the finger and smoking from a Hookah.
• Text Messaging a Thank You – Believe it or not, some applicants believed it was appropriate to text message their thank you to the interviewers. “Thx 4 the Ntrvu” is going to guarantee you don’t get a call back.

Text messaging and social media are all great tools, but they are great tools for your personal life, not your corporate life. You can fill your personal life with as much technology as you please. At the job interview, only use traditional methods.

Take Away Interview Tips

• Don’t text message your interviewers.
• Don’t add your interviewers on Facebook.
• Don’t overuse technology.

Additional Links

• Yahoo Career Article

Can I Bring Coffee to the Job Interview?

We at Everyday Interview Tips survive on more coffee than water. Chances are that as you are reading this we are enjoying another delicious brown beverage, complete with sugar, crème, and just the right amount of sweet, sweet caffeine. Mmmm…

Chances are, you enjoy a little bit of the coffee yourself, especially if your job interview is early in the morning and you are starting to suffer from a caffeine withdrawal headache. Who can blame you?

As you drive to your job interview, you will probably stop off and grab a cup of coffee to help your brain get in the mood for the interview ahead. Holding that coffee is relaxing. Maybe even calming. You decide “hey, maybe I should carry this in to the interview?”

Bringing Coffee Into the Interview

While it seems like a good idea, hiring managers are in universal agreement – keep your beverages out of the job interview.

Hiring mangers head to the job interview assuming they are going to see a slightly nervous, energetic candidate that is ready and willing to impress them. When they see a candidate standing around, holding a beverage, they start to feel that the candidate may see the interview as something too casual. They begin to believe that maybe the applicant isn’t experiencing the gravity of the interview process. All of this reflects poorly on your candidacy.

Tips for Coffee

If you have coffee, finish it before the interview. If the interviewer offers you a coffee during the interview, feel free and accept it, but try to finish it before you meet with any other interviewer. If a new interviewer walks in, the coffee should suddenly be off limits.

Everyone loves coffee, but the last thing you want is for your interview to appear too casual. Finish your coffee beforehand and you will avoid any impression that you do not take the job interview seriously.

Take Away Interview Tips

• Don’t bring a beverage to the job interview.