10 things not to do during a job interview.

[formercia]

Answer the phone? Sniff armpits? Top 10 interview gaffes
Thu Mar 13, 2008 2:13pm EDT

NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - Hear the one about the job candidate who brushed her hair during an interview? Or the man who sniffed his armpits on the way into the interview room?

They may sound like jokes but these are two of the top 10 gaffes to feature in an annual survey of the most outrageous interview mistakes by candidates compiled by online job site CareerBuilder.com.

The list, based on a survey of 3,061 U.S. hiring managers and human resources professionals by research company Harris Interactive, found the top 10 most outrageous mistakes were:

http://www.reuters.com/articlePrint?articleId=USSP687020080313

[yvr girl]

1. Someone I work with was interviewing for a promotion

She was asked what the most difficult thing she'd done for the company was...and replied working with so and so manager - who she'd have to be working with more closely.

[Boojatta]

2. That's not helpful.

third in the list at 48 percent was appearing disinterested.

Okay, I'm willing to be biased in order to get the job, but what kind of bias am I supposed to have?

[Boojatta]

3. "Talking negatively about a current or previous employer came in second at 49 percent"

If FEMA was a previous employer, then would you say that the management of FEMA is probably no worse than the management of the company you are applying to work for?

Would the interviewer say, "Great! I've heard people talk negatively about previous employers and I'm glad that you're not intolerant like that. Why exactly did you quit?"

What's the right answer? How about this: "Well, believe it or not, FEMA had unusually excellent management. I know this contradicts the conventional wisdom that all employers are identical. Please understand that I'm not accusing your company of being unusually excellent. I'm sure you're just mediocre and that's what I'm looking for. I've had enough of excellent management."

[mondo joe]

4. We have 2 parking area. I give applicants very clear instruction on which one to park in,

and explain that if they park in the wrong lot they risk getting towed.

It's amazing how often when they arrive they manage to park in the wrong area.

I consider that my first sign of someone who is unlikely to work out.

[Deep13]

5. My list of worst mistakes.

1. Refering to the interviewer as "mein Fuhrer."

2. Scheduling the interview for the moment after you finish the Boston Marathon.

3. List "parole" as a previous accomplishment on your resume.

4. Arriving to the interview as an ethnic minority.

5. Describing in detail the effects of bubonic plague while neglecting to note possible nuerological damage. (Duh!)

6. Stare at the extra foot growing from the interviewer's forehead.

7. Punctuating every remark by the interviewer with "that's what SHE said!" especially if you're a straight woman.

8. Casually telling a male interviewer that you can't taste salt.

9. Lie about the origins of your rascist prison tatoos, especially the ones on your face.

10. Bogarting the interviewer's last joint.

[siligut]

6. #8 is a biggie.

People who can’t taste salt are just too depressing to be around. However, lying, especially considering you aren’t a very good liar if you have prison tattoos, well spotting a bad liar, that will put anyone off.

[CTyankee]

7. Actual statements interviewees have said to me during an interview.

Me: "Why do you want to work for XXX?"

Interviewees: "Oh, I don't care who I work for. I just want a job."

AND (with another interviewee)

Me: "Do you have any questions about this position?"

Interviewee: "Yeah, how much sick time would I get? I have a bad back and need to take a lot of sick time."


I am not making these responses up, folks.