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Eighty-seven percent of employers and recruiting services admit that they make final decisions about hiring during the first 15 minutes of a job interview, Business Insider reports. What actions can immediately hurt your chances? From unprofessional dress to being overly self-aggrandizing, there are certain behaviors that you need to carefully reign in.
Mistakes That Will Cost You the Job
One of the easiest mistakes to make is coming across as too confident and self-involved. Although narcissists traditionally perform better during job interviews (according to Business Insider), applicants should keep discussion relevant and to the point at all times. Frame qualifications and self-promotion in the context of the position, company, and what — specifically — you can accomplish for them. Avoid rambling. “Many candidates talk about themselves ad nauseam, with little or no relevancy to the job opening at hand,” Dana Manciagli, a career coach, warns.
Another red flag is badmouthing past employers. Although this may seem as obvious as showing up in in unprofessional dress, a good deal of applicants accidentally slip up when asked why they left their last position. “You can say you’re interested in new responsibilities, a variety of challenges, more authority, a different location … or simply that the current job posting appealed to you so strongly you couldn’t resist reaching out.You can say you’re interested in new responsibilities, a variety of challenges, more authority, a different location … or simply that the current job posting appealed to you so strongly you couldn’t resist reaching out,” The Huffington Post advises. Top executive search firms, including top legal recruiters, will be especially unforgiving if you make mistakes during the interview.
Watch Out For These Illegal Interview Questions
Although most actions — if not given careful consideration — reflect poorly on the applicant, others suggest that the employer or recruiting service hasn’t done their job. It is illegal for recruiters to ask your age, marital and/or family status, or even whether you have been arrested, USA Today reveals. If an employer asks you an illegal question, don’t be rude. Instead, frame it in a way that is professional and legal. For example, if employers ask who will babysit when you travel, answer “I can meet the travel and work schedule that this job requires,” USA Today recommends.
Don’t get tripped up during job interviews. Keep all discussion of qualifications relevant to the job at hand, keep conversations about past employers professional, and know your rights as an applicant. Research more here.
