Interview Blunders to Avoid

The more interviews you have, the more you will discover that your success depends on saying the right things, looking the part and feeling confident. The following list shows a number of reasons given by interviewers as to why candidates may be unsuccessful during the interview process:

Etiquette

• Arriving late without calling ahead.
• Neglecting to recognise and thank the interviewer for their time.
• Being rude.
• Being too familiar.
• Being sarcastic.

Physical Characteristics

• Inappropriate clothing or poor personal appearance.
• Lack of eye contact.
• Damp and limp handshake.
• Poor communication skills; voice, grammar, diction and mannerisms.
• Lack of energy.

Matching Job Objectives

• Unprepared.
• Lack of questions and interest about the job.
• Unclear about what they can offer the organisation.
• Indecisive.
• Candidate only interested in what the company can do for them.
• Too much emphasis on salary.
• Reluctant to relocate.

Previous Employment

• Unexplained, numerous job changes or gap in work history.
• Poor references.
• Lacking suitable experience and education.
• Critical of past employer.

Attitude

• Too aggressive.
• Lack of confidence.
• Too many excuses.