5. Being Discourteous
When you have a job interview, it’s more than just the people with whom you’re interviewing that you need to impress.
Many employers will seek out opinions about you from anyone with whom you had contact while visiting. Were you dismissive of the receptionist? Did you come across as a little snarky to one of the people you met in passing? If so, it could be your undoing.
To avoid this trap, be overly polite to everyone you meet from the CEO to the janitor. If you’re equally respectful and show everyone the same amount of courtesy, you can’t go wrong.
4. Not Reading the Job Listing Carefully
How many times have you seen a job listing online, applied for it, and never heard anything back? If so, it might be because you didn’t read the listing carefully.
Hiring managers know who they want and what skills they need. Although many companies are willing to train in certain areas, other positions require specific knowledge needed to hit the ground running. So when you’re reading the listing and see “MUST BE AN EXPERT IN EXCEL!” written as such, you’d better truly be an expert if you apply. Because if you do get a call back and for a phone or in-person interview and you don’t know the first thing about Excel, you’ve not only wasted everyone’s time but also ensured you won’t be considered for future job openings at that company. And possibly others depending on how connected and influential the hiring manager is.
3. You Botched the Salary Issue
"How much money does this job pay?" is almost always the most important question to any jobseeker. But it's also the subject that can potentially disqualify you from the running the fastest.
If the very first question you ask is about pay, you could be in trouble. Namely because it shows your potential employer all you care about is the money. You’ll be in a much more advantageous position if you put off asking the question until they show genuine interest in hiring you, or make you an offer. Sometimes hiring managers want to know what you’re currently making or what your salary requirements are. If you can, avoid this trap because you could end up either lowballing yourself or pricing yourself right out of the job if your demands are too high.
Use our Salary Wizard to find out how much the job pays in advance, so when you do talk salary you’re prepared and ready to negotiate.
2. You're Just a Bad Interviewer
Sometimes it comes down to the simple fact that they didn’t like you.
Some people are born to work a room, while others are inherently uncomfortable under pressure. So if you spent your job interview fidgeting in your seat, sweating profusely, tapping your foot or twiddling your thumbs, you didn’t do yourself any favors. Skills and experience are great, but at the end of the day people generally hire people they like. A candidate who was conversational, friendly and easygoing is more apt to get the job compared to a nervous person ill at ease the entire time.
While being cognizant of your body language and memorizing some responses to classic interview questions seems like a good idea, just be wary. An experienced hiring manager can spot canned answers a mile away, and all that research could end up hurting you.
1. You Didn't Ask Any Questions
Obviously, job interviews exist so companies can learn more about you and decide whether or not they want to hire you. But make no mistake, you’re also interviewing them.
If hired, you’re going to spend a minimum of 40 hours a week at this place. Probably more. Would you buy a car without test driving it? Would you purchase a new home sight unseen? No, of course not. So why wouldn’t you ask pertinent questions of your interviewer? Believe me, they’re not only hoping you will, most of them are expecting it. And if you don’t, it could raise some serious red flags.
Ask about the company’s organizational philosophy in relation to your own. Find out what the atmosphere and dress code is like. Or, better yet, do some advance research. See what a Google search turns up about the company and ask some relevant questions. Not only does it prove you’re inquisitive and involved, it shows them you’ve done your homework about the company.
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