The Job Search market is tough out there. Employers don’t often talk about the gaffs made during interviews, but what follows below is pretty amusing. In addition to a few obvious mistakes, there are some good pointers as well. Personally, I have always believed getting a job comes down to one single point; to the degree you convince that you are going to solve problems as opposed to create them, you get the job.
With competition hot for open positions, the pressure is on for job seekers to have flawless interview skills. Sometimes that pressure can cause candidates to make unusual, and sometimes unfavorable, interview mistakes. A new CareerBuilder survey of more than 2,700 hiring managers reveals the outrageous and common mistakes that some candidates have made in job interviews.
When asked for the most unusual blunders they’d encountered while interviewing candidates, hiring managers reported the following:
-- Candidate wore a business suit with flip flops.
-- Candidate asked if the interviewer wanted to meet for a drink after.
-- Candidate had applied for an accounting job, yet said he was "bad at
managing money."
-- Candidate ate food in the employee break room after the interview.
-- Candidate recited poetry.
-- Candidate applying for a customer service job said "I don't really
like working with people."
-- Candidate had to go immediately to get his dog that had gotten loose
in the parking lot.
-- Candidate looked at the ceiling during the entire interview.
-- Candidate used Dungeons and Dragons as an example of teamwork.
-- Candidate filed fingernails.
In addition to the most unusual gaffes, employers shared the most common mistakes candidates made during an interview:
-- Dressing inappropriately - 57 percent -- Appearing disinterested - 55 percent -- Speaking negatively about a current or previous employer - 52 percent -- Appearing arrogant - 51 percent -- Answering a cell phone or texting during the interview - 46 percent -- Not providing specific answers - 34 percent -- Not asking good questions - 34 percent
“With heightened competition for open positions in today’s economy, it’s important for candidates to put their best foot forward in an interview,” said Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources for CareerBuilder. “You want to stand out for the right reasons. Even though the job search process can be frustrating, candidates should stay positive, focus on their strengths and be prepared on how to best sell their skill set.”
Haefner offers the following tips for successful interviews in a competitive job market:
-- Stay positive: Many job seekers may be experiencing tougher than usual
job searches in this economy. Even if your job search process has been
frustrating, do what you can to remain positive. Also, no matter how
tempting it is, don't say negative things about a previous employer,
regardless of how the job ended - hiring managers may fear that you
will say the same things about their organization.
-- Research, research, research: When you walk into an interview
knowledgeable about the company, the role and recent news in that
industry, you show the hiring manager you value their time and that
you want to be part of the organization. A simple online search can
provide you with the background information about a company that you
need to stand out.
-- Keep it professional, not personal: Don't let business decorum
disappear even in the interview is in a casual setting. Refrain from
discussing over-the-top personal issues and focus on the position and
selling yourself.
-- Practice makes perfect: Nerves are likely to rear their head in an
interview, so help calm them ahead of time by practicing. Go through
common interview questions with a friend or family member and practice
in front of mirror so you can see read your body language.
-- Honesty is the best policy: If questions come up that you don't know
how to answer, don't lie or pretend you know. Admit that you may not
know the answer, but then explain how you would go about finding a
solution, proving your resourcefulness.
Source: PR Newswire
