What NOT To Say In An Interview
What NOT To Say In An Interview
Before we have a look at what you shouldn’t be doing or saying at interviews, here are a couple of tips ahead of next month’s “How to smash an interview” blog…
First Impressions Count:
One in four job applicants fails at interviews because of their appearance on the day. Grooming mistakes, inappropriate dress for a job interview or outrageous behaviour, turning up late, slouching in the chair, dirty fingernails, and limp wet handshakes.
Do Your Research:
It’s not only appearance that counts – 31% of HR managers say job seekers should spend time preparing for difficult interview questions. Sometimes even the most basic questions like “tell me why you are the best person for the job” are poorly answered.
Most job candidates (52%) admit they spend less than two hours researching the company, rehearsing for the interview, and preparing answers to standard questions.
And for the record, the next bit is what NOT to do…
Interviews that went wrong!
· The excited interview candidate who spat at the person interviewing when answering a question
· The woman who went to the washroom to check her appearance before an interview and walked into the interview room with toilet paper stuck to her shoes
· One shy job candidate went to the pub for a bit of Dutch courage and failed to impress by turning up drunk for a bus driver’s job
· The job seeker got his underwear stuck in a trouser zip, with his pants peeking through his fly throughout the interview
Crazy things bosses said candidates did at interviews!
He stretched out on the floor to fill out the job application.
She wore a Walkman and said she could listen to me and the music simultaneously.
A balding candidate abruptly excused himself. He returned to the office a few minutes later wearing a hairpiece.
He asked to see the interviewer’s resume to see if the personnel executive was qualified to judge the candidate.
She announced she hadn’t had lunch and proceeded to eat a hamburger and French fries in the interviewer’s office – wiping the ketchup on her sleeve.
He stated that he would demonstrate his loyalty if he were hired by having the corporate logo tattooed on his forearm.
He interrupted to phone his therapist for advice on answering specific interview questions.
When I asked him about his hobbies, he started tap dancing around my office.
At the end of the interview, while I stood there dumbfounded, he went through my purse, took out a brush, brushed his hair…and left.
He pulled out a Polaroid camera and snapped a flash picture of me. He said he collected photos of everyone who interviewed him.
He said he wasn’t interested because the position paid too much.
While I was on a long-distance phone call, the applicant took out a copy of Penthouse and looked through the photos stopping longest at the centrefold.
An alarm clock went off from the candidate’s briefcase during the interview. He took it out, shut it off, apologized, and said he had to leave for another interview.
The candidate said he didn’t want to get a job, but the unemployment office needed proof that he was looking for one.
He asked who the lovely babe was, pointing to the picture on my desk. When I said it was my wife, he asked if she was home now and wanted my phone number. I called security.
Keep an eye on your inbox next month and make sure you read the “how to smash an interview” blog for a load more handy interview tips and advice from our team of experienced recruiters