12 Most Common Ways To Bomb Your Job Interview

We’ve all gone on job interviews, feeling we nailed it. Yet we don’t get the job. Sometimes, we never hear from the recruiter again.
Take a look at the ways your peers and competitors bomb their interviews… and see if maybe you’ve made some of these mistakes. Yes, these may seem like common sense (which is why we left off overly simple advice such as “don’t be late”). Yet, job seekers make these missteps – every single day.

1. Go Too Casual

“Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence in society.” – Mark Twain

I’m not suggesting you show up to your interview naked. Ask the recruiter ahead of time, on the phone or email, about the company’s dress code. If asking is uncomfortable, play it safe with dress pants or slacks and a nice shirt and tie; or skirt and blouse. Even a “laid back” start-up would be impressed with your professionalism. Better to be over dressed than…well, naked.

2. Arrive Unprepared

You emailed your resume – certainly the hiring manager had time to memorize it, or at least to print it and bring copies with him. Right?
Bring copies of your resume to the interview. The more you know about the company and industry before the interview, the better. Research the company’s history, major competitors, market niche, products, etc. And having a quality notebook or leather-bound portfolio in which to take interview notes will add to a professional tone.

3. The Weak Handshake

A time-honored killer of good first impressions. The interviewer enters the room. They greet you warmly, smiling, and extend their hand to grasp yours… an awkward moment if you over-think it. Will your hands meet correctly? Will they land slightly askew, resulting in that quasi-handshake, squishy, “I wanna’ do-over!” event?

Display confidence and social skills: use a firm (dry) handshake to convey confidence and strength of character.

4. Your Cell Phone DOES Have Ringer Control

So the cell phone ringing at awkward times happens, right? And the recruiter probably didn’t even notice your phone rings to the tune of Rihanna’s “S&M”… right?

This is an easy one to forget since most of us are completely tied to our digital second brain. Turn your phone off (completely off!) before the interview. If you forget and your phone rings, do NOT answer!

5. The Distraction Diva

Almost as rude as answering your phone is the person who allows everything to become a distraction.

It could be the gum they fail to discard, constantly clicking their pen, or the change and keys jingling in their pocket. Nervous ticks fall into this category: constantly clearing your throat, “ums” and “ya’ knows”, tapping your fingers on the conference room table. Simple advice: remove anything that may distract you during your interview – and identify any nervous habits you may have before the interview.

6. Body Language

Your body language communicates for you – loud and clear.

Maintain eye contact with your interviewer. Sitting up and forward shows active interest with your full body. Nod your head at appropriate times and ask questions throughout the interview. An interview should be a two-way conversation – including your body language!

7. Secure Your Opinions in a Safe Place

And by opinions, we mean those NOT related to the job. Political and religious statements are obvious no-nos. But unsolicited small-talk can be equally damaging…
Statements as innocent as “I saw Will Ferrell’s movie last night… SO effing funny!” and “I hate small dogs” (yes, these really happened) can catch the recruiter off-guard – and may even offend.

8. Play the Victim

Want to turn off a recruiter in one brief lapse of common sense? Play the role of a victim.

Tell the recruiter you’ve submitted dozens, perhaps hundreds, of online applications and have been on several interviews. But, you add, that effort hasn’t resulted in a single job offer. You’ve done everything right, you say, but you just haven’t had any luck. Oh… and without fail, you pile on by saying “I just need a chance…”
Immediate fail. Interview over.

9. Premature Negotiation

Please… do your homework – and understand the salary range to the best of your ability before accepting the interview.

If discovering the salary in advance is impossible … only ask after you’ve discussed: a) your ability to the fill the position, and; b) your potential to be a good fit to the company culture. Only then is it okay to bring up compensation – otherwise, in the eyes of many recruiters you’re planting a big red flag in the ground.

10. Insist on Being Elitist or Un-Friendly

With the exception of very technical positions, employers interview for skills, but they hire for personality and whether you can do the job. When done correctly, the interview reveals both. Be perceived as an elitist and the interviewer may pigeon hole you as “over-qualified”. Be the slightest bit unapproachable, and you’ll most likely be labeled high-maintenance.

Use your manners, smile and engage in an articulate manner. Have a sincere conversation with the interviewer. Otherwise, you may just come across as though you really don’t want to be there – now, or as an employee.

11. The Failed Follow-up

Most interviewees send resumes and wait… then interview and hope – with no proactive effort to communicate after the interview.

Don’t fall into the forgotten pile – send a follow up letter after the interview; at the very least a thank you email. Add a few memorable points from your discussion (maybe even a question or two you thought of after the interview). Better yet, send an old-school hand-written thank you letter (yes, snail mail!). The recruiter may now see you as a sincere applicant worthy of consideration – and perhaps even a second look.

12. The Stalker

The opposite of the failed follow-up is “the Stalker” – one who is so eager (read: “desperate”) that all common sense is left behind.

After the interview… the Stalker calls, emails and tweets so often she either scares, or annoys the hell out of, the recruiter. Through her actions, and perhaps despite the perfect resume and work experience, she comes across more like Glenn Close in ‘Fatal Attraction’ than she does the perfect team member. The Stalker rarely gets a first chance, and never gets a second. After all, “No One Wants to Hire a Stalker“.

Avoid these 12 Most common, yet often overlooked, job interview mistakes – and nail your next interview!