Interview Bloopers That Kill Your Chances

Nancy Anderson
Posted by in Career Advice


A job interview is your one chance to convince a potential employer that you're the right fit for an open position. Although most interviewers look past general nerves and innocent slip-ups, a few interview bloopers are unforgivable. Making one of these mistakes almost guarantees that you don't get the job.

Bashing Former Employers

The way you talk about former bosses in a job interview is a clear indicator of your level of professionalism. When you use negative language or show a lack of respect, the potential employer wonders if you'll speak the same way about him one day. No matter what the circumstances of your last job were, avoid getting overly emotional or upset. There's no need to lie about a bad situation if the employer asks; simply stay detached and state the facts briefly. In the absence of a direct question, focus on your accomplishments and responsibilities at the company.

Dressing Inappropriately

As the old saying goes, you only get one chance to make a first impression. In a job interview, that impression can make or break your chances of getting hired. Dressing inappropriately is a surefire way to create a negative bias before you've even opened your mouth. Women should avoid showing cleavage or too much leg. Men should avoid overly tight clothing. Every applicant should appear pulled together and well-groomed; wrinkled, torn or stained clothing is inappropriate.

Failing to Listen

A job interview is not just a chance for a company to judge you. The meeting is also a chance for you to determine whether the employer is a good fit for you. If you spend the whole interview talking, you don't learn anything. You're also more likely to miss what the employer is asking for and give a bad answer. It's easy to chatter on when you're nervous. Instead, force yourself to listen carefully, take a moment to think before speaking and limit your answers to a few concrete examples.

Using Poor Non-verbal Communication

The way you present yourself in a job interview often communicates more than your answers. Slouching, leaning in too close, looking bored or looking off into space are a few interview bloopers that automatically distract the employer from what you are saying. They also make you appear uninterested in the position or overly comfortable. Instead, adopt a position that makes you look alert and enthusiastic. Sit straight in your chair, lean forward without invading the interviewer's space and make eye contact with each person.

In most cases, careful preparation before your interview and awareness in the moment as the interview takes place are the only ways to avoid making irreparable mistakes. By avoiding major bloopers, you can give a more successful job interview.

 

Image courtesy of Ambro at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 

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  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    @Dylan - truly understand. You can't get a job without experience but you can't gain experience until you get a job. Same is true with education. The truth of the matter is that this is not new - has always been the case. The sad part is that now there are fewer jobs to go around so putting your best foot forward in the interview is the best way to beat out the competition. And one more thing I might add - something that not very many job seekers do - send a thank you after the interview. Not by email, either - but with a thank you note sent by regular mail. We have lost this art somewhere along the way. Employers indicate that very few candidates take the time to send a thank you but those that do definitely have a better chance of getting that call. Best of luck to you.

  • Dylan Worth
    Dylan Worth

    You are welcome, I struggle with getting the interviews sometimes. I am only 19 years old, so that can affect my ability to get jobs. It's hard to present a resume nowadays at any age, but just starting life I am realizing that it begins to get a little more complicated than it used to be. I have been studying business, business law, and anthropology behavioral science, but not in college. I simply can't afford college without going into debt. It's funny nowadays to work you need a college degree, but to get that college degree you need to work to pay for it. Oh yes! I agree with how you were talking about looking around just a little bit to be able to find some conversation started. Best of luck on those applications, and I will try harder, and maybe invest in a suit. Convince my family to buy me some nice clothes for the holidays. Happy Holidays :)

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    Thanks Dylan. What you say is very true. Personality and professionalism should always shine through. The interviewer knows that the applicant is nervous. Who knows - maybe this is the first time this person has interviewed an applicant for a position. He/she might be even more nervous than the applicant. I agree that you shouldn't be looking around - unless there is something that you see that could start a more casual conversation - at least for a minute or two - as I have found that calms my nerves. I typically take a pad and a pen with me so that I can jot down a few notes during the interview - or jot down something to remind me to ask a question or make a statement later on in the interview. I always go into an interview with the intention of "getting the job" - not trying to have a better interview. Thanks again.

  • Dylan Worth
    Dylan Worth

    Hello Nancy, I've read your comment, and I can agree, and disagree with your statement of "Interviews can be very stressful" The first thing to pay attention too is that the hiring manager will see the social anxiety, and how you handle social situations. One of the biggest things in a company is the ability to speak with ease to your customer. One of the biggest factors is that you have two answers you can get. A yes, or no, don't let the answer overwhelm you due to the fact it is hard to land a job. The interview is the time to let your personality, and professionalism shine. Eye contact is key, you don't want to be looking around, or twiddling your thumbs. I know it can be stressful, because they hold the fate of you getting the job or not, but you can't let that mess up the whole entire process. That hiring manager is like you, and myself a human being that is trying to make a living. I feel like that is when we tense up the most. Also one more thing you should be aware of when you said "Try to have better interviews" For a motivation technique say "So I take all these steps seriously now, and I will have better interviews." Good luck!

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    Glad you enjoyed is Jaysing. Interviews can be very stressful and I have found that many times, because of nerves, I say too much or I don't say enough. Then the interviewer feels like he/she's pulling teeth to get more information out of me or to find a way to move on to the next question! I think failing to listen to the interviewer is probably the worst of all of these. We practice and practice our interviewing skills in front of family and friends and think that we are all set. Then we get into the real thing and all of that prepping seems to just disappear. So I take all of these steps seriously now and try to have better interviews.

  • Jaysing P.
    Jaysing P.

    This is a hidden Guide path

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