Loading...

Other

عربي   Français


Menu - [Jump to main content]

Home » Career Resources » Career Articles and Guides » The Job Interview » Job Interview Don'ts

Job Interview Don'ts

Views: 34,127 - Comments: 56

Bookmark this article

Digg It!   Del.icio.us   Reddit

Add Your Rating

  • Poor
  • Below Average
  • Average
  • Above Average
  • Excellent

Ratings: 83 - Please login to rate.


Print   Email to Friend  

Some job interview pitfalls to avoid.

  1. Don't arrive at the interview late.
  2. Don't over or under dress or dress inappropriately for the position. First impressions do count and you want to be dressed to show that you fit into the desired role.
  3. Don't wear strong perfume.
  4. Don't forget to take with you extra clean copies of your CV as well as a notebook and pen with which to take notes.
  5. Don't forget to shake the hand of the Interviewer firmly - a limp or sweaty handshake will not be looked on favorably.
  6. Don't chew gum, smoke, eat or drink at the Interview.
  7. Don't act distracted. Look the Interviewer straight in the eye and give him your full and undivided attention.
  8. Don't let your body language send the wrong messages. Be aware of the nonverbal cues you are sending out! Sit upright and straight in the chair facing the employer and smile. Lean forward occasionally to express interest. Avoid crossing your arms or legs in front of you (suggests defensiveness), slouching in the chair (suggests sloppiness and lack of energy), leaning too far back (may be interpreted as being overly familiar and disrespectful), talking to the floor (lack of confidence) or flirting.
  9. Don't refer to the Interviewer by his first name unless he specifically asks you to do so.
  10. Don't talk about your weaknesses or failings or apologize for lack of education, experience, training etc. Everyone has weaknesses; the Interview is the time to showcase your enthusiasm and strengths.
  11. Don't make derogatory comments about previous bosses or peers. This is never acceptable and particularly works against you in the Interview.
  12. Don't act tired or jaded. Employers are invariably looking for someone to energize, inspire and uplift the team. Try to act enthusiastic and full of energy and motivation.
  13. Don't act unfocused and uncertain about what you want. Whatever interview you're in - you want THAT job.
  14. Don't lie. Answer briefly, truthfully and concisely.
  15. Don't interrupt.
  16. Avoid giving 'yes' or 'no' answers. Support your answers with examples and be as factual and concise as you can.
  17. Don't talk too much. Focus your answers on the particular question and on your related strengths. Watch for signals that the Interviewer is losing interest and stop talking immediately.
  18. Don't talk about your personal life. You have not been hired yet so keep it professional. This is no the time to talk about failed love lives, a husband who asked you to quit your job etc.!
  19. Don't treat questions as jokes or try to be too funny.
  20. Don't ask about holidays, perks, hours or compensation until you've actually been made a serious offer.
  21. Don't act overly confident or superior. Ultimately, unless you are applying to the very senior level positions, the Interviewer is looking for someone who is manageable and will fit into the team.
  22. Don't drop names of influential friends and acquaintances unless you are passing a message or someone has referred you. Be very careful and professional when you mention names of clients and make sure you are never giving out confidential information.
  23. Don't leave abruptly. Shake the Interviewer's hand firmly, thank him for his time and ask what the next step will be.

This article and all other intellectual property on Bayt.com is the property of Bayt.com. Reproduction of this article in any form is only permissible with written permission from Bayt.com.

Related Articles

Salary Negotiations: the Basics
Published in Career Center - The Interview Bayt.com reveals some basic tools to use when you ask the employer to show you the money!
Job Interview Don'ts
Published in Career Center - The Interview Some job interview pitfalls to avoid.
Job Interview Tips
Published in Career Center - The Interview Interview skills are learnt. Do your pre-interview homework, learn what questions you can anticipate and how best to answer them. Practice and preparation are key for a successful interview.
Avoid Common Interview Mistakes
Published in Career Center - The Interview Your professional CV and attention-grabbing cover letter are landing you interviews with your target companies yet somehow you are never able to make it past the interview stage. Make sure you are not suffering from the following career-blowing deficiencies.
Job Interview Tips for Interviewers
Published in Career Center - The Interview Companies are in constant search for high-caliber, well grounded prospective candidates. Chasing competent and trustworthy talent has become an urge in today’s highly competitive job market. As a matter of fact, a recent study from Harvard University has recently reported that 80% of employee turnover is attributed to mistakes made during the hiring process, that is employing the wrong people to the wrong positions.

More articles and guides...

Top

Reader Comments

1. O Sei San AnosaThanks for these tips.I've learned a lot that can help me in job hunting here in my own country as well as abroad.
Fri 16-Jan-2009 05:23 AM - Report Inappropriate Comment
2. مريم لحمرلا استطيع ان اقول الا بارك الله فيكم وسددخطاكم و شكرا جزيلا لكم
Tue 25-Nov-2008 12:26 PM - Report Inappropriate Comment
3. صلاح ابراهيم صلاح صلاحشكرا على المعلومات المفيدة
Sat 22-Nov-2008 23:05 PM - Report Inappropriate Comment
4. Waqas TahirThanks for your valuable tips, inshallah these tips may help me in getting a good job. Ameen
Thu 20-Nov-2008 09:40 AM - Report Inappropriate Comment
5. YOUSSEF EL BASBASSIشكرا جزيلا على هذه المعلومات القيمة التي تتيح لقارئها فرصة الحصول على العمل المطلوب لو تم تنفيذها بدقه
Tue 18-Nov-2008 11:59 AM - Report Inappropriate Comment
6. ahsan kazmithe information that you have provided on this page about interview is very much help full for new job seekers before this i have no idea for the interview but reading this pitfall to avoid made me very strong mentally , thank you all team members who create this ,
Mon 03-Nov-2008 18:46 PM - Report Inappropriate Comment
7. Mohamed RafikThanks a lot from my innermost heart. It may be helpful to all of us and support us 100% to build up our career
Sun 26-Oct-2008 09:45 AM - Report Inappropriate Comment
8. REDA HILAL ABDULAH mubarakvery good
Thu 09-Oct-2008 15:06 PM - Report Inappropriate Comment
9. Mustafa alkhalailehI THINK ALL ARE RIGHT
Thu 09-Oct-2008 08:13 AM - Report Inappropriate Comment
10. Ehtasham ShahidVery helpful and practical tips.
Thu 09-Oct-2008 02:24 AM - Report Inappropriate Comment
11. Asim KhanNice tips.
Mon 29-Sep-2008 04:15 AM - Report Inappropriate Comment
12. ali arakrakشكرا على هده النصائح والتعليمات واتمنى عبرهدا الموقع ان اجد عمل
Wed 17-Sep-2008 10:54 AM - Report Inappropriate Comment
13. شهاب عبد الحميد خليل بهنسيشكرا على الاهتمام البالغ ونتمنى المزيد والمزيد للاستفادة من الخبرات السابقة
Sat 30-Aug-2008 00:44 AM - Report Inappropriate Comment
14. عبد الله محمد خطاب خطابكلها نصائح جيده وهائلة لك كل الشكر والاحترام على هذا المجهود عبد الله خطاب
Thu 28-Aug-2008 09:53 AM - Report Inappropriate Comment
15. Ammar bin nisar nisar uddinThese are the effective points in preparing your self a good interviewee for particular job.
Thu 28-Aug-2008 07:04 AM - Report Inappropriate Comment
16. BEVERLY VARQUEZthis is enlightenment, as some of us are experiencing the "dont's" at least for next opportunity we are confidently facing this situation. thank you for the tips bayt.com! More power!
Sun 24-Aug-2008 06:43 AM - Report Inappropriate Comment
17. Tarek BassyouniGood efforts partners. Only few candidates know these secrets to influence and make a remembering long lasting interview. The only worry is for the HR professionals for being mis-leaded by non natural behavior, and not being consistent in job actual performance. But anyway, it's an excellent topic, well done. Tarek Farouk, Manager Human Resources, Alexandria-Egypt.
Mon 21-Jul-2008 16:49 PM - Report Inappropriate Comment
18. adnan hameedeffective tips, someone need more tips about questions which interviewee ask from interviewer about there business and environment
Sun 20-Jul-2008 09:08 AM - Report Inappropriate Comment
19. mostafa osmanنصائحكم ممتازة جداً أشكركم
Mon 14-Jul-2008 08:34 AM - Report Inappropriate Comment
20. Mohamed Abdelaalشكرا مع مزيد من النصائح التى تساعد الافراد على التعلم والفهم
Thu 10-Jul-2008 08:22 AM - Report Inappropriate Comment
21. AHMED GOODAمشكووووووووووووووووووووووووووووووووووووووووووووووووووووووور
Mon 07-Jul-2008 12:13 PM - Report Inappropriate Comment
22. HISHAM KUNDUVALAPPIL TACHANKANDYthax for your tips for interviews
Sun 06-Jul-2008 17:33 PM - Report Inappropriate Comment
23. Sameera Hesamuddinthis is a great deal of tips!!!!
Wed 02-Jul-2008 00:26 AM - Report Inappropriate Comment
24. MAISOON ABDEL-HADIحلووووووووو كتير
Sun 29-Jun-2008 09:38 AM - Report Inappropriate Comment
25. Rishikant SinghIn case the employer indicates you to advise your expected compensation package, how do you structure it? And after advising your expectations, what is an appropriate time for a followup in case you do not hear back for a week or so ?
Sat 28-Jun-2008 01:01 AM - Report Inappropriate Comment
26. ali elashryجزاك الله خيرا نصائح قيمة
Mon 23-Jun-2008 09:40 AM - Report Inappropriate Comment
27. Asghar HussainI am very thankful in making such kind of tips for the interviewee. Thanks once again.
Sat 21-Jun-2008 04:09 AM - Report Inappropriate Comment
28. Wasim AsifVery effective tips,thumbs up for Bayt :)
Mon 09-Jun-2008 12:04 PM - Report Inappropriate Comment
29. MAISOON ABDEL-HADIشكرا جزيلا لكم
Mon 09-Jun-2008 08:46 AM - Report Inappropriate Comment
30. Gulrez Raza KhanThis is really very useful and informative. Bayt Tram, your efforts are highly appreciated. Gulrez Raza Khan - Kuwait 01-June-2008
Sun 01-Jun-2008 10:47 AM - Report Inappropriate Comment
31. Ahmed H. Babikeranyone who does exactly like this is gonna have the job he's seeking. Thanks bayt.com, you are appreciated.
Fri 23-May-2008 22:19 PM - Report Inappropriate Comment
32. Hala Al Yazouriشكرا جزيلا على النصائح الغالية و نرجو من الله ان يرزقنا جميعا بالوظائف المناسبة و المريحة
Thu 20-Mar-2008 14:50 PM - Report Inappropriate Comment
33. سامح محمود محمدعبد الفتاحليس بعد هذا الكلام كلام وجزاكم اللة خيرا واشكر كل العاملين والمبدعين فى هذا الموقع فكل حياتى بنيت على هذا الموقع
Tue 18-Mar-2008 12:18 PM - Report Inappropriate Comment
34. SARAH FAKHREDDINEMerci infiniment pour ces informations...je trouve ca tres reel et je crois que si on les applique on aura pas de prolèmes au rendez vous... thank u again for this great article and nchalla it will help us to be at the top in our interviews...good luck for eveyone!!!
Tue 11-Mar-2008 13:53 PM - Report Inappropriate Comment
35. khalid saifullahThanks for your valuable tips, inshallah these tips may help me in getting a good job, ameen
Wed 05-Mar-2008 12:30 PM - Report Inappropriate Comment
36. zaheer chaudhryThanks for valuable tips of interview
Mon 25-Feb-2008 13:59 PM - Report Inappropriate Comment
37. Tirthankar GuhaThank you for a marvelous article. BAYT is number one!
Sun 24-Feb-2008 04:22 AM - Report Inappropriate Comment
38. Husnain Rafiqits brilliant,really helpul and realistic,one should act accordingaly Husnain Rafiq Sheikh
Mon 18-Feb-2008 19:40 PM - Report Inappropriate Comment
39. Ghassan Abukarthx a lot, nice post!!
Sat 16-Feb-2008 18:31 PM - Report Inappropriate Comment
40. mahmoud gomaaلا استطيع ان اقول الا بارك الله فيكم وسددخطاكم
Wed 13-Feb-2008 23:08 PM - Report Inappropriate Comment
41. meshal sabtiشكرا جزيلا على هذه المعلومات القيمة التي تتيح لقارئها فرصة الحصول على العمل المطلوب لو تم تنفيذها بدقه
Mon 11-Feb-2008 22:16 PM - Report Inappropriate Comment
42. Shady Bashavery very good infomations thanks too much for Bayt team work really i can say it now your website is the greatest at all Shady Basha
Tue 05-Feb-2008 22:11 PM - Report Inappropriate Comment
43. sajjad ahmedThis is excellent and helpful material.
Mon 28-Jan-2008 17:08 PM - Report Inappropriate Comment
44. Azam zainYes its G8t help for any interview thanks bayt team Azam Zain
Mon 21-Jan-2008 13:08 PM - Report Inappropriate Comment
45. Ayman MassoudThanks a lot for your great advises.
Thu 10-Jan-2008 20:57 PM - Report Inappropriate Comment
46. aurang zaibBayt is always helpful to me. I recommenr all my friends this useful web site for Job search. Thanks Bayte.
Sun 06-Jan-2008 11:26 AM - Report Inappropriate Comment
47. Hytham AlhafnyThank you very much for these important advices they were really helpful thank you again hytham
Sat 15-Dec-2007 02:25 AM - Report Inappropriate Comment
48. khadija hammoudathank you for these dont's ;once the interviewee avoids them, he will get the job for sure.
Sat 08-Dec-2007 09:57 AM - Report Inappropriate Comment
49. muhammad mudassar chandnawell i think that these pointd would help me in my interview room and i would ike to thank bayt responsibles for such advices.
Tue 27-Nov-2007 09:22 AM - Report Inappropriate Comment
50. Sherif El-GendyThanks for the useful information.
Mon 26-Nov-2007 11:55 AM - Report Inappropriate Comment
51. أحمد حسينهذه النصائح جيدة جدا لكل مقابلة بل هى أساس كل مقابلة جزاكم الله كل خير
Mon 19-Nov-2007 02:36 AM - Report Inappropriate Comment
52. السيد محمد السيد أحمدالنصائح اكثر من ممتازه لو اتبعتها تبقى الوظيفه مضمونه الثقه فى الله ثم النفس يوفقكم الله شــــــــــــكرا
Mon 12-Nov-2007 13:10 PM - Report Inappropriate Comment
53. wassim abdallahvery practical and important instructions to every job seeker
Thu 01-Nov-2007 21:33 PM - Report Inappropriate Comment
54. Muhammad Bashirudeen Badrudinvery relevant guide, I strongly appreciate.
Thu 18-Oct-2007 14:33 PM - Report Inappropriate Comment
55. ibrahim jibril sulestrongly needed. I will do my best.
Wed 17-Oct-2007 12:28 PM - Report Inappropriate Comment
56. Mohamed Gaberthanks for this advice
Tue 16-Oct-2007 10:52 AM - Report Inappropriate Comment

Please login to post a comment.