What Not To Do In an Interview

Since we are in the recruiting business, we have heard some pretty funny stories about candidates in interviews.  Some people had no idea what the company did, which means they didn’t do their research before the interview.  Others inquired about break room locations, how soon they could go on vacation and if psychiatric care was included in the benefit plan.  Do you think they got hired?

The problem with these kinds of topics is that it does not give much confidence to the interviewer about your abilities.  It doesn’t suggest professionalism or focus on the tasks at hand, which is filling the company’s need for a professional who can get this job done!  First, vacation is fairly standard.  Soliciting information about psychiatric care doesn’t suggest competence and not researching the company?  This may have been acceptable before the days of the Internet, however, now it is pretty inexcusable.  Why should an interviewer take you seriously if you aren’t taking the job seriously?

Other things to avoid are:

• Poor hygiene


• Bad breath


• No deodorant


• Being late for the interview


• Wearing lots of cologne or perfume


• Smelling like smoke


• Chewing gum


• Wearing wrinkled clothes and


• Crossing your arms in front of you


• Slouching in your seat


• Failing to keep good eye contact


• Being so conservative about the position that you appear uninterested

A little enthusiasm can go a long way in an interview.  Stay focused and attentive to the company’s needs.  An interview should be taken seriously especially when a contract is expiring or when facing a lay off.  Being prepared for the interview includes knowing what not to do in addition to knowing what the job is about.  Remember, it's your job to sell yourself here, spend a little time preparing and it will get you closer to your new position!