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1. Being late
I know. Traffic is often a bitch, and parking is often a nightmare. But I am usually interviewing to a schedule with 15 minutes for each candidate, so if you’re late it throws everything out. Just leave much earlier.
2. Being early
Again, if there was no traffic and you found parking right outside the building... that’s fantastic, but still not my issue. Wait in the car. Walk around the block. Do a little window shopping. Play on your phone. But don’t come into reception and announce yourself half an hour before your appointment.
3. Not proofing your CV
A spelling mistake in a CV says: “I’m sloppy.” More than 4 mistakes? “I don’t care.” Why go there? Always, always get your most Grammar Nazi-type friend to proof your CV for you.
4. Treating me like a friend
One of my most unnerving interviews ever was when an applicant has Googled me so thoroughly, she not only knew the names, ages and grades of my children... but my dogs’ names as well. It took her 10 minutes to rattle off what she obviously thought was ‘thorough interview prep’, but was actually just seriously creepy.
5. Not having done any research
I once interviewed a woman who kicked off with: “So, what do you actually DO here?” Needless to say, we didn’t need the full 15 minutes.
6. Standard responses
Just so you know, no one’s worst character trait is that ‘they are a perfectionist’ or ‘I tend to throw too much into my work.’ You know what you’re actually saying when you’re using these old nuggets? “I think you’re a little thick.” Not a good route.
7. Not asking any questions at all
I assume people make this mistake because they are nervous and shy, but that’s still no excuse. I can’t get a sense of what’s important to you if you never take control of the conversation yourself.
8. Focusing only on the admin, not the job
There are, of course, questions that make you look bad. One applicant had only 5 questions for me: how much leave do I get? Is there a coffee machine? Can I always take a full lunch hour? Will the company pay for parking? Can my boyfriend be on my medical aid?
Admin questions are important, just make sure that you don’t ONLY ask them.
9. Expecting an answer on the spot.
You’re almost definitely not the only candidate I am interviewing. Even if you are, I need to check your references. So please don’t expect me to be able to offer you a job on the spot, or act like it’s a bad sign that I don’t.
10. Leaving bombs for the last minute
If you need to work flexi-time or are emigrating in 3 months or expect your package to include at least 6 weeks off a year... please mention this as early as possible and not only at a second or third interview. Work on the basis that deal breakers are just that; and make sure you don’t waste either my time or your own.
Do you agree? Or got any other interview mistakes to add?
Follow Women24 on Facebook and/or Twitter in November 2010 and stand to win a prize EVERY SINGLE DAY!
I know. Traffic is often a bitch, and parking is often a nightmare. But I am usually interviewing to a schedule with 15 minutes for each candidate, so if you’re late it throws everything out. Just leave much earlier.
2. Being early
Again, if there was no traffic and you found parking right outside the building... that’s fantastic, but still not my issue. Wait in the car. Walk around the block. Do a little window shopping. Play on your phone. But don’t come into reception and announce yourself half an hour before your appointment.
3. Not proofing your CV
A spelling mistake in a CV says: “I’m sloppy.” More than 4 mistakes? “I don’t care.” Why go there? Always, always get your most Grammar Nazi-type friend to proof your CV for you.
4. Treating me like a friend
One of my most unnerving interviews ever was when an applicant has Googled me so thoroughly, she not only knew the names, ages and grades of my children... but my dogs’ names as well. It took her 10 minutes to rattle off what she obviously thought was ‘thorough interview prep’, but was actually just seriously creepy.
5. Not having done any research
I once interviewed a woman who kicked off with: “So, what do you actually DO here?” Needless to say, we didn’t need the full 15 minutes.
6. Standard responses
Just so you know, no one’s worst character trait is that ‘they are a perfectionist’ or ‘I tend to throw too much into my work.’ You know what you’re actually saying when you’re using these old nuggets? “I think you’re a little thick.” Not a good route.
7. Not asking any questions at all
I assume people make this mistake because they are nervous and shy, but that’s still no excuse. I can’t get a sense of what’s important to you if you never take control of the conversation yourself.
8. Focusing only on the admin, not the job
There are, of course, questions that make you look bad. One applicant had only 5 questions for me: how much leave do I get? Is there a coffee machine? Can I always take a full lunch hour? Will the company pay for parking? Can my boyfriend be on my medical aid?
Admin questions are important, just make sure that you don’t ONLY ask them.
9. Expecting an answer on the spot.
You’re almost definitely not the only candidate I am interviewing. Even if you are, I need to check your references. So please don’t expect me to be able to offer you a job on the spot, or act like it’s a bad sign that I don’t.
10. Leaving bombs for the last minute
If you need to work flexi-time or are emigrating in 3 months or expect your package to include at least 6 weeks off a year... please mention this as early as possible and not only at a second or third interview. Work on the basis that deal breakers are just that; and make sure you don’t waste either my time or your own.
Do you agree? Or got any other interview mistakes to add?
Follow Women24 on Facebook and/or Twitter in November 2010 and stand to win a prize EVERY SINGLE DAY!
