32 common interviewing mistakes you should avoid

The list below provides an insightful list of the most common mistakes interviewees make. The list is based on reports from 153 executive search firms. Source: Carnegie Resources.

  1. Tardiness
  2. Poor or casual personal appearance
  3. Lack of interest and enthusiasm: Passive and indifferent
  4. Over emphasis on money: interested only in best dollar offer, benefits, hours and vacation
  5. Condemnation of past employers
  6. Failure to look at the interviewer when conversing
  7. Limp, fishy handshake
  8. Unwillingness to go where sent
  9. Late to interview
  10. Failure to express appreciation for interviewer’s time
  11. Asks no questions about job or company
  12. Indefinite response to questions
  13. Overbearing, over aggressive, conceited with superiority or “know it all complex.”
  14. Inability to express self clearly: Poor voice diction, grammar
  15. Lack of planning for career: no purpose and goals
  16. Lack of confidence and poise: nervous and ill at ease
  17. Failure to participate in activities
  18. Unwilling to start at the bottom-expects too much too soon
  19. Makes excuses, evasive, hedges on unfavorable factors in record
  20. Lack of tact
  21. Lack of courtesy: ill mannered
  22. Lack of Maturity
  23. Lack of vitality
  24. Indecision and hesitation
  25. Sloppy application, not fully completed or putting see resume
  26. Merely shopping around seeking a counter offer
  27. Wants job for short time
  28. No interest in company or industry
  29. Low moral standards
  30. Intolerant: strong prejudices
  31. Narrow interests
  32. Inability to take criticism

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One Comment

  1. I previously worked for a major design-build firm where I was briefly involved in the hiring of construction managers.
    Anyway, one day we interviewed a potential candidate. Halfway into the interview, he excused himself to answer a call from another company he had previously interviewed with.
    He later tried to play it off as a joke. He was apparently trying to imply his importance by answering the call.
    Do I need to mention that he did not get the job?

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