Chris Wodke
The job market is very competitive with employers having the advantage. Employers in this economy can be picky since they have their choice of quality candidates. Any miss-step could eliminate you from consideration for a much needed job. Avoid the following interview deal breakers.
- Social networking sites can thwart a job opportunity.
A survey by Ponemon think tank showed 35 percent of hiring manages use Goggle to do an online background check. These checks can turn up profiles on social networking sites like myspace and facebook. Be careful of the image you present on these sites. A hiring manager may decide you may not be the best suited for a position based on the content of your facebook or myspace site. Set your social networking site to private.
Bad Credit can cause you to lose a job offer.
Get your credit in order. Employers will check this as part of a routine background check. A history of late or unpaid bills can be a deal breaker to getting a job offer.
Not Researching the Organization Before the Interview
To present yourself and sell your skills to the company you need to know about the company and the challenges it is facing. Network with current employees to see what the company is looking for in the position, current hot issues in the organization (productivity, customer service, cutting costs). Ask current employees about their experience. Also do background research on the basics of the company. Find out the following: financials awards one, officers, locations, products. It is really a turnoff when a candidate does not take the time or make the effort to learn about the company where they will be interviewing.
Acting too Casual during the Interview
Things not to do, bringing food to the interview, smoking at the interview, speaking ill of a former co-worker or company, offensive language, off color jokes or racial remarks. No gum chewing. Dressing too casual also applies. Always dress at least one level about the everyday attire of the workforce where you are interviewing.
Unprofessional Voice Mail or Email Address
Any communication must be professional and put you in the best possible light. Leave cute email monikers, social networking sites, and personal websites off of your resume. Have a professional sounding voice mail. Potential employers may get one of their first impressions of you from your voice mail.
Inability to Communicate
You have to give clear, direct answers to any interview questions. Be prepared to give the story of how your skills, abilities and experience are a good fit for this organization.
Tell how you have contributed to the bottom line of your former employers when you applied your skills. Demonstrate your outstanding people skills. Communicate your interest in the organization and your enthusiasm for the position. Be prepared to tell your story of past successes that will directly translate to the position for which you are interviewing. Do not give just yes or no answers. Also ask questions about the job, company work environment and the managerial style of your future boss.
No References
Be ready to provide these at the interview. Ask permission of anyone listed and give them a heads up they may be contacted. Let your references know the company that may contact them and the position you applied for. This will help your references give you a glowing and specific recommendation. You might even remind them of projects you worked on, traits to highlight or successes they can talk about.
Getting Too Personal
Save the personal and social information for after you are hired. Do not give the interviewer a reason to screen you out. Do not disclose personal information such as marital status, family situation, hobbies, religious practices, club memberships, and social activities. Making inappropriate disclosures may be seen as a tendency to make poor judgments. Keep information related to the position for which you are being interviewed. This is not a therapy session. Don’t disclose problems and interpersonal issues.
Being Rude
How you treat everyone you meet during the interview may be subject to scrutiny. Be polite to everyone you meet including administrative assistants and security personnel. If you are rude before you join the company your potential employer will assume you will be rude after you are hired. Remember you manners! Thank the interviewer for the opportunity for the interview. Your cell phone should be left in the car. Under no circumstances should you take a phone call during an interview.
Being Too Informal
Even if a business seems casual follow rules of business etiquette. Shake hands with everyone you are introduced. Do not be seated until asked to do so. Do not call an interviewer by their first name unless you are asked to do so. Remember to exchange business cards.
Being Late or Too Early
Show up at the agreed upon time. Do a drive by of the site if necessary so you will be there on time. Leave in plenty of time to account for traffic. If you arrive early go over your resume or other job information in you car. Do not be more than five minutes early. This can interrupt the day of your interviewer and can be annoying to them. They may not be ready for you and it throws their schedule off. If something happens like a car breakdown, you must call the company and tell you will be late and why.
Dressing Inappropriate for the Position
The organization wants to hire someone who looks the part. For a professional position a suit is necessary even if the organization is business casual.
Performance Anxiety
Being nervous about how you will perform can cause a number of problems including: lack of eye contact, talking too fast, fidgeting, interrupting the interviewer or talking too much, or other annoying habits like jingling change. Relax by taking three deep breaths before you go into the company for the interview or while you are waiting. Do practice interviews with family or friends. Role play, tape it, play it back and critique your performance. Take notes to help you concentrate on what the interviewer is saying. Focus on the questions, and the opportunity instead of how you look. Take notes including the names of anyone interviewing you. This can help you to ask questions later and not interrupt.
Talking About Money Too Soon
You should not be the first one to bring up money or benefits. Wait for the interviewer to ask. However when asked be prepared your salary expectation. These expectations should be in line with your experience and current market compensation.
Follow these tips and you will be a polished interviewer. There is not guarantee you will get the position even with a good interview, but you can guarantee a long un-employment if you show any of these deal breakers.
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Titles: Product Safety and Liability, Aftermarket Product Safety,Hazard Analysis, Product Safety Meetings, Warnings, Instructions and Manuals, Product Liability European Union, Obtaining the CE Mark, Risk Assessment, European Union, Product Safety Management Product Safety Audit, Workplace Violence, Substance Abuse, Sexual Harassment, Manager as Coach, Hiring, Firing, Performance Appraisals, Diversity, Americans With Disabilities, Business Etiquette, Security Abroad, International Business Manners, Customer Service, Customer Communication, Terrific Teams, The Manager as Trainer, Coping With Difficult People, Managing Your Boss- Problem Bosses, Malcolm Baldridge Award, Presentations/Public Speaking, Discrimination, Listening Skills, Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Total Quality Management, Motivation, High Achievers, Time Management, ISO 9000 Introduction, ISO 9000 Implementation, Quality Audit, Introduction to the Internet, Stress Management, Telecommuting, Flexible Work Schedules, Creativity and Innovation, Benchmarking, Effective Business Writing, Customer Letters, Motivating Self and Others, Project Management, Managing Multiple Projects, Brainstorming, PERT Diagrams, Train the Trainer, Train the Trainer-Delivery, Train the Trainer-Writing Presentations, Train the Trainer-On the Job Training, Train the Trainer-Using Visual Aids, Project Management, Peer to Peer Feedback, Surviving Unemployment, Interview Preparation
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