We all know how stressful a job interview can be. No matter how attractive a job candidate is – one unappealing characteristic can completely override any positive aspects. Hiring managers have deal breakers – things that a job candidate does or says that immediately gets their application sent to the “no” pile.
Here are some no-no’s straight from the recruiters’ mouths:
1. Asking about salary in the initial interview (for an otherwise great interview, some will excuse this if it happens during the Q&A at the end).
2. Speaking about scheduling limitations or prospective reasons to leave the position right off the bat.
3. Acting impolitely or speaking down to any person in our office (receptionists or secretaries included).
4. Telling me that dealing with people is your biggest challenge/weakness or least favorite thing. Very few jobs let you work without other people.
5. Consistently answering questions other than those I asked.
Often, the little things set a good candidate apart from a bad candidate, so pay attention to details!
Some deal breakers straight from hiring managers mouths:
- An immature cell phone ring-back such as a hip hop song
- Once a candidate didn’t know what company they were applying for. The job posting didn’t note the company name, but the root domain of the manager’s e-mail should have given away the company’s Web address, and they were looking for someone that was tech-savvy for the job.
- Lying on a resume. For example, when dates of jobs listed on a new and previous resume do not match up.
- Arrogance. An overly confident candidate can seem to have a sense of entitlement, which is not what an employer wants to deal with. Be sure to be gracious to everyone you meet during the job search process. Remember, being humble will get you farther than being conceited.
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