A recent survey by CareerBuilder spotlighted some of the worst mistakes a candidate can make during an interview. Over 3,000 hiring and HR managers named the biggest errors a job-seeker might commit:
• Answering a cell phone or texting during the interview
• Appearing disinterested
• Dressing inappropriately
• Appearing arrogant
• Bad-mouthing current or previous employers
• Chewing gum
And the managers also shared some of their worst experiences with a job candidate:
• One candidate brought a “how to interview” book to the interview.
• Another asked, “What company is this again?”
• A candidate put the interviewer on hold during a phone interview. When she came back on the line, she told the interviewer that she was arranging a date.
• When a candidate interviewing for a security position wasn’t hired on the spot, he painted graffiti on the building.
• A candidate wore a Boy Scout uniform to the interview and never explained why.
• One candidate was arrested by federal authorities during the interview when the background check revealed the person had an outstanding warrant.
• A candidate talked about promptness as one of her strengths—after showing up 10 minutes late.
• Driving to his interview, one candidate passed, cut off, and flipped his middle finger at another driver. You guessed it—the other driver turned out to be his interviewer.
• A candidate referred to himself in the third person.
• Another took off his shoes during the interview.
• One candidate asked for a sip of the interviewer’s coffee.
• And finally, a candidate told the interviewer she wasn’t sure if the job offered was worth “starting the car for.”