You have found a great job opportunity. You have the necessary skills and experience. Everything is going according to plan, but for some reason you are not selected. What happened? You probably made a mistake in the interview. Most hiring managers are willing to let a little business or two go by. However, if you make several of the common interview mistakes, you will never be on the short list.

We interview hiring managers, recruiters, and even job applicants to identify the most common mistakes made by job applicants. We do not intentionally classify the list of interview crimes, as their impact will vary widely depending on the attitude of the interviewer. Looking through the list below, some mistakes will seem pretty obvious, even common sense (and humorous). Some mistakes apply to only one genre, but there are many for everyone.

We recommend that you go through our list and make your own personal checklist, based on work, company, and your past experiences. Before each interview, look at the list again. In this way, it will be conditioned on their behavior and responses. After each interview, find out as soon as possible. Review the list, checking for items that were tampered with.

By carefully crafting your answers and avoiding mistakes in the interview, your confidence will increase and your employment campaign will improve dramatically.

101 job interview mistakes:

1. Being late for the interview (and not calling to notify the interviewer)
2. Bring food and drink to the interview
3. Wearing huge medals, chains and gaudy jewelry
4. Smell of smoke
5. Referring to any staff member in any derogatory or suggestive way
6. Using foul language
7. Forgetting to bring additional resumes
8. Take liberties with the interviewer Ex: address by first name
9. Leave your cell phone on (and answer)
10. Wearing shirt unbuttoned in front; sleeves rolled up
11. Badmouthing your former supervisor or employer
12. Dress very casually or excessively – simple conservative always works
13. Do not send a thank you note after the interview
14. Wear shorts, floppy t-shirts, sneakers, baseball cap, blue jeans
15. Tousled or unkempt hair
16. Chewing gum
17. Wear a tie or stained shirt
18. Messy, poorly ironed clothes
19. Track dirt, snow, rain, etc. in the office
20. Showing tattoos
21. Wearing dirty or scratched shoes
22. Put the briefcase or purse on the interviewer’s desk
23. Poor posture when sitting, slouching
24. Not giving a firm handshake
25. Make disparaging references to gender, race, or age.
26. Unshaven
27. Body odor; bad breath
28. Too much perfume or aftershave cologne
29. Shuffling papers and notes during the interview
30. Do not bring critical reference material: dates, names, addresses, etc.
31. Not getting names and titles or bus cards from interviewees
32. Not recognizing everyone in the organization Eg: receptionist, assistants, etc.
33. Assuming one or more staff members do not influence the hiring decision
34. Interrupting the receptionist or other staff with frivolous conversation
35. Laugh out loud during the interview
36. Tell jokes during the interview
37. Not thanking the interviewer and expressing enthusiastic interest in the position
38. Don’t ask her level of interest, how she fits in, the next step
39. Asking who else is applying: What are their names?
40. Responding: ‘I already answered that question’
41. Lying
42. Losing your temper or arguing with the interviewer
43. Ask detailed questions about salary in the first interview
44. Focus on medical benefits and sick time during initial discussions
45. No response to “What type of position are you seeking? What are your career goals?”
46. Restlessness: playing with hair and hands, cracking knuckles
47. Pick up and worry about things on the interviewer’s desk
48. Ask the interviewer personal questions.
49. Hemming and blinking when answering
50. Not answering a question – stalling – ignoring a question
51. Not being prepared for the most common questions.
52. Ask about vacations and comp time at the beginning.
53. Request flex time unless it is a routine and expected part of the job.
54. Coming to interview sick
55. Bring a friend or family member (even to the waiting room)
56. Direct the interviewer: “You should … do this or that”
57. Don’t smile and show enthusiasm.
58. Wandering instead of a clear and concise answer
59. Answer questions with irrelevant details
60. Exaggerating skills and achievements
61. Not maintaining eye contact
62. Acting as if you are the obvious choice or if you already have the job
63. Contempt HR staff and their role.
64. Offering apologies or qualifications before a response
65. Don’t do research: ask questions for which you should already know the answers.
66. Demonstrate your knowledge of the company with elements of common knowledge
67. Make it clear that you deserve a promotion before you start
68. Do not support alleged abilities with specific examples
69. Being a philosopher: focus instead on your concrete skills to add value
70. Not being prepared for tough questions about past failures, problems, layoffs, etc.
71. Interrupt the interviewer
72. Using threatening language: “If I don’t get this job …”
73. Mispronouncing an important word or name
74. Do not address the interviewer by name during the interview.
75. Do not overcome the negative observations or conclusions made by the interviewer.
76. Say that money doesn’t matter
77. Ask for something to eat or drink
78. Asking “When can I expect my review and how often do they give raises?”
79. Not following the example of the interviewer: if everything is a business, then you are an entire business, etc.
80. Holding the interviewer hostage: recognizing when the interview ends
81. Not knowing what the next step in the process is.
82. Focus and comment on office decorations, titles, and office size
83. Declare what you don’t or won’t do
84. Make references to labor legislation and labor regulations
85. Discuss issues with the interviewer
86. Emphasizing your medical conditions
87. Being a Pity Applicant – Employer is primarily interested in your needs, not yours
88. Speak at the interview implying that your skills and experience are superior
89. Say “You probably don’t know this due to your age or lack of experience, but …”
90. Don’t change your personal voicemail to a professional answer
91. Do not cross your legs or ankles during the interview
92. Failing to warn family and roommates about potential calls from potential employers
93. Conducting telephone interviews in a noisy or disruptive environment
94. Use existing employer phone or email to contact potential employers
95. Forgetting critical information – who are you interviewing with? Time, address
96. Refer to potential employers on social media and blogs.
97. Not getting detailed instructions beforehand
98. Sending text messages in front of the interviewer or other staff
99. Asking to use the phone for routine matters
100. Talk about controversial politics or events involving politics, religion, etc.
101. Offer details about personal life that the interviewer does not need

Copyright 2009 T Collins Group LLC