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