10 Ways to Fail Your Job Interview
3 February 2014
Read by 2985 persons
A job interview can be a perilous ordeal: making a good impression on the recruiter and standing out as the best among other candidates is not always child's play, and a small detail can sometimes tip the scales.
Jessica Liebman, recruiter at Business Insider, lists 12 missteps she has already observed in the candidates she has interviewed and which cost them their chance.
1. Don't arrive half an hour early
The recruiter might feel pressured by your early arrival. 5 minutes in advance is largely sufficient.
2. Don't touch your hair
Nervousness can be betrayed by certain gestures. However, avoid fiddling with your hair or face during the interview. This attitude indeed appears unprofessional.
3. Accept the tests
If you are offered a written test after the interview, accept, even if you had not planned to spend so much time in the interview: it will indeed be very badly seen on your part to say that you do not have the time.
4. Take care of your breath
The first impression is obviously essential. This is why you must have a neat presentation. And it would obviously be a shame to spoil it with bad breath or greasy hair.
5. Know what you want
Avoid telling the recruiter that you don't yet know exactly what you want. You would seem lost and unconvinced. On the contrary: you know very well what you want, and it's precisely this job!
6. Don't ask about working hours
Asking during the first interview what the working hours are will give the impression that you only think about doing the minimum required, without taking your eyes off the clock. It is better to formulate this question in a more subtle way, by asking, for example, what a typical day looks like in this position.
7. Avoid overly long cover letters
In the letter accompanying your resume, a few short and concise paragraphs are sufficient. No need to tell your life story since early childhood. Keep the details for the interview.
8. Your dream job is this one!
If you are applying for a writer's job, for example, avoid telling the recruiter that your ultimate dream is to become a designer or sports commentator. That wouldn't be very convincing, obviously.
9. Find out about the company
Surf on their website, read any articles available about them, etc. In this way you will have no trouble answering when the recruiter asks what you thought of their website presentation or why you would like to work for them.
10. Don't denigrate other candidates
If you meet the recruiter at a job fair, avoid criticizing your competitors, like this candidate, Jessica recounts, who said that the other candidates were dressed very lightly compared to her.
11. Show interest in the position
Don't ask if it's easy to move up within the company: this question will give the recruiter the impression that you are only applying for the position to get a foot in the door, without really caring about the position in question.
12. Ask questions at the end
Don't say you have no questions at the end of the interview. You certainly have one! Ask it to prove your interest.
Source: Business Insider
References.be
Posted online on February 3, 2014.
Jessica Liebman, recruiter at Business Insider, lists 12 missteps she has already observed in the candidates she has interviewed and which cost them their chance.
1. Don't arrive half an hour early
The recruiter might feel pressured by your early arrival. 5 minutes in advance is largely sufficient.
2. Don't touch your hair
Nervousness can be betrayed by certain gestures. However, avoid fiddling with your hair or face during the interview. This attitude indeed appears unprofessional.
3. Accept the tests
If you are offered a written test after the interview, accept, even if you had not planned to spend so much time in the interview: it will indeed be very badly seen on your part to say that you do not have the time.
4. Take care of your breath
The first impression is obviously essential. This is why you must have a neat presentation. And it would obviously be a shame to spoil it with bad breath or greasy hair.
5. Know what you want
Avoid telling the recruiter that you don't yet know exactly what you want. You would seem lost and unconvinced. On the contrary: you know very well what you want, and it's precisely this job!
6. Don't ask about working hours
Asking during the first interview what the working hours are will give the impression that you only think about doing the minimum required, without taking your eyes off the clock. It is better to formulate this question in a more subtle way, by asking, for example, what a typical day looks like in this position.
7. Avoid overly long cover letters
In the letter accompanying your resume, a few short and concise paragraphs are sufficient. No need to tell your life story since early childhood. Keep the details for the interview.
8. Your dream job is this one!
If you are applying for a writer's job, for example, avoid telling the recruiter that your ultimate dream is to become a designer or sports commentator. That wouldn't be very convincing, obviously.
9. Find out about the company
Surf on their website, read any articles available about them, etc. In this way you will have no trouble answering when the recruiter asks what you thought of their website presentation or why you would like to work for them.
10. Don't denigrate other candidates
If you meet the recruiter at a job fair, avoid criticizing your competitors, like this candidate, Jessica recounts, who said that the other candidates were dressed very lightly compared to her.
11. Show interest in the position
Don't ask if it's easy to move up within the company: this question will give the recruiter the impression that you are only applying for the position to get a foot in the door, without really caring about the position in question.
12. Ask questions at the end
Don't say you have no questions at the end of the interview. You certainly have one! Ask it to prove your interest.
Source: Business Insider
References.be
Posted online on February 3, 2014.
