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Survey: top 10 dumbest interview mistakes
CHICAGO, March 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- What's the most unusual thing a candidate did in a job interview? Fall asleep? Disappear? Bring his/her mom? CareerBuilder.com released its annual survey of the most outrageous interview mistakes candidates have made, according to over 3,000 hiring managers and HR professionals nationwide. This year's Top Ten list includes:
-- Candidate answered cell phone and asked the interviewer to leave her own office because it was a "private" conversation.
-- Candidate told the interviewer he wouldn't be able to stay with the job long because he thought he might get an inheritance if his uncle died
-- Candidate asked the interviewer for a ride home after the interview.
-- Candidate smelled his armpits on the way to the interview room.
-- Candidate said she could not provide a writing sample because all of her writing had been for the CIA and it was "classified."
-- Candidate told the interviewer he was fired for beating up his last boss.
-- When applicant was offered food before the interview, he declined saying he didn't want to line his stomach with grease before going out drinking.
-- A candidate for an accounting position said she was a "people person" not a "numbers person."
-- Candidate flushed the toilet while talking to interviewer during phone interview.
-- Candidate took out a hair brush and brushed her hair.
In addition to the most unusual blunders, employers were also asked
about the most common and detrimental mistakes candidates have made during an interview. More than half (51 percent) of hiring managers cited dressing inappropriately as the most detrimental mistake a candidate can make in an interview. Speaking negatively about a current or previous employer came in second at 49 percent and appearing disinterested ranked third at 48 percent. Other mistakes included appearing arrogant (44 percent), not providing specific answers (30 percent) and not asking good questions (29 percent).
"Interviews give employers a window into what it's really like to work with a candidate -- how they react under pressure, what motivates them and how they interact with others," said Rosemary Haefner, vice-president of Human Resources for CareerBuilder.com. "If a candidate is overly negative, plays the blame game, is easily frazzled or doesn't come prepared, it usually sends up a red flag for employers. Be knowledgeable about the company, rehearse answers to potential questions and always maintain a professional manner."
-- Candidate answered cell phone and asked the interviewer to leave her own office because it was a "private" conversation.
-- Candidate told the interviewer he wouldn't be able to stay with the job long because he thought he might get an inheritance if his uncle died
-- Candidate asked the interviewer for a ride home after the interview.
-- Candidate smelled his armpits on the way to the interview room.
-- Candidate said she could not provide a writing sample because all of her writing had been for the CIA and it was "classified."
-- Candidate told the interviewer he was fired for beating up his last boss.
-- When applicant was offered food before the interview, he declined saying he didn't want to line his stomach with grease before going out drinking.
-- A candidate for an accounting position said she was a "people person" not a "numbers person."
-- Candidate flushed the toilet while talking to interviewer during phone interview.
-- Candidate took out a hair brush and brushed her hair.
In addition to the most unusual blunders, employers were also asked
about the most common and detrimental mistakes candidates have made during an interview. More than half (51 percent) of hiring managers cited dressing inappropriately as the most detrimental mistake a candidate can make in an interview. Speaking negatively about a current or previous employer came in second at 49 percent and appearing disinterested ranked third at 48 percent. Other mistakes included appearing arrogant (44 percent), not providing specific answers (30 percent) and not asking good questions (29 percent).
"Interviews give employers a window into what it's really like to work with a candidate -- how they react under pressure, what motivates them and how they interact with others," said Rosemary Haefner, vice-president of Human Resources for CareerBuilder.com. "If a candidate is overly negative, plays the blame game, is easily frazzled or doesn't come prepared, it usually sends up a red flag for employers. Be knowledgeable about the company, rehearse answers to potential questions and always maintain a professional manner."
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Job Magician on -
I run a retained executive search firm. Probably the strangest thing a candidate did was interview barefoot, in shorts. I was coming through Philadelphia, where he lived, and arranged to meet him at his home. He came to the door barefoot, and explained that was how he dressed when he worked from home. This was for a job paying over $250,000 a year. I didn’t present him to the client, which I’m sure doesn’t surprise you.
Dressing improperly is not uncommon, as is being late (both are unpardonable for job interviews). Regarding lateness, if something unforeseen occurs (like an earthquake), you can correct this by calling ahead. Showing up 25 minutes late and blaming traffic is not acceptable. Plan on being there an hour early, and read the newspaper in your car when you get there.
Other people say things out of school, expecting that these comments will be kept in confidence ("Just between you and me, I hate snow, but I figure I can tolerate it for a couple of years”). Neither a recruiter nor anyone else in the interview process should be told something that you don't want everyone involved in the hiring process at your potential new employer to know, because they are working for the employer.
I’ve even had people send back email explosions when being sent a polite no thank you to an ad response, or get into an argument with me when I tell them that I’m not going to present them to the client. Obviously, these people are blacklisted from future assignments.
Another mistake is being too anxious. Some people will leave messages on consecutive days as follow-ups. That's nagging, and not good follow-up. Follow-up calls should be several days after a resume is sent, or 7 to 14 days after an interview. The next follow-up call should be no earlier than 10 days later, or you'll seem desperate, or like a pest (and who wants to hire either). You should follow-up as a good sales rep would: not too soon, and not too late.
The biggest thing that I see is that people don’t act as professionally when job-hunting as they do when they’re working. They’re uncomfortable in the process, and try to be something they’re not.
On my job hunting advice web site, www.jobmagician.com, I have an article entitled 10 Ways to Turn off an Executive Recruiter which lists other job-hunting errors.
Job Magician
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Permalink Reply by MediaLogic on -
lots of good information on your site, i was using thins one and its working out for me.
careernetwork.us.com
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Permalink Reply by Jessica Miller-Merrell, SPHR on -
I recently had a phone interview with a candidate who was taking a bath at the same time. It was very distracting to hear the swish swish and water sounds while the candidate talked about their qualifications and experience. It was very distracting and inappropriate. Needless to say, she wasn't hired.
The other interesting interview that comes to mind is a candidate that brought her 2 month old to the interview. I'm not opposed to this, but I do think it's inappropriate to breast feed while interviewing face to face. We had to take a short break during the interview while she burped the baby and checked his diaper.
Jessica
www.bloggingforjobs.blogspot.com
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