How Not to Get a Job: The Top 12 Devastating Interviewing Blunders

We’ve all been there. Stressing out about an interview, hoping we don’t show up in our underwear like our dreams insist we will.

If you find yourself currently in the job market facing down interviews, it’s important to make a good first impression. Even if you don’t get the job, giving off good vibes could lead to other opportunities. Then… there are the blunders. The moves that cost you the job before you even have a chance to show how good of a fit you are.

According to the experts, some blunders are immediate deal-breakers and we want to stop you from making them.

1. Lack of Professionalism

Even if you’re interviewing for a position in a casual work environment, you should always be professional. That means showing up on time, dressing appropriately, and conducting yourself in a manner deserving of a role at the company.

A lack of professionalism can end up in the interview being cut short or denied altogether.

2. Being Negative

When employers are interviewing applicants, they look for various personality traits. One of them is negativity. And this is especially true when it comes to talking about your previous jobs.

Even if you felt as though you were in the seventh circle of hell with your last job, it’s best to leave the past in the past and focus on the future.

3. Not Doing Your Research

During your interview, you are likely to learn a bit about the company. Researching it beforehand can help give you some insightful questions to ask.

It’s not about knowing all of the stats and figures, though that can be helpful, but more about taking an active interest in the company and the job at hand.

4. Exaggerating or Lying

Goal number one is to impress the hiring manager and the quickest way to do that is to be honest. You might think exaggerating or lying about your skills may increase your odds of getting hired, but eventually, the truth will come out.

Stick to the truth. If you have never worked with a software program or don’t know accounts receivable from accounts payable, it’s not a crime. It will, however, give your prospective employer an idea of how much training you’d need.

5. Being Unprepared

While most things are done digitally these days, including resume submissions, it never hurts to be prepared. Bring a couple copies of your resume with you just in case the person interviewing you doesn’t have it handy and learn about the role you’ve applied for.

That way, when you’re asked questions, you know how to answer them with confidence.

6. Being Rude

If you want a one-way trip to the exit, being rude will certainly get you that result. That doesn’t just mean the interviewer or hiring managers.

If you’re rude to any of the staff, it will reflect badly on you and could absolutely cost you the opportunity. Always be polite, regardless of whom you’re talking to.

7. Awkward or Bumbling Responses

Nervousness is a real thing and it can cause us to stumble over our responses. Before you go to the interview, make sure you rehearse your answers to the common questions.

Don’t do it too much, or you’ll sound scripted like you’re auditioning for a Hollywood movie, but it’s a good idea to practice speaking ahead of time to sound more fluid.

8. Not Following Up

This might seem like an old-school technique, but following up with the hiring manager could still score you some brownie points in today’s day and age.

Keep your message simple. Thank them for their time and maybe toss in a topic or two you discussed in the interview. Do not send multiple messages, even if they don’t respond.

9. Giving Too Much Information About Your Life

You might think you’re being personable, but there’s such a thing as being too revealing and too casual.

For example, Woof CEO Daniel Haarburger spoke with CNBC, recounting the worst answer he’d had to the question “What does your day-to-day life look like?” The interviewee answered “Life’s a hot-mess express right now. It’s pretty wild.” While there are certainly points for honesty here, the prospect did not get the job because it gave the wrong impression—that the person had no idea what they were doing.

10. Not Showing Interest in Position

If you’ve put in the time to apply and gotten called in for an interview, you might want to show the hiring team you’re interested in being there. If you seem bored or don’t add to the meeting at all, it’s literally a waste of both of your time.

If you aren’t interested in the position, then decline the interview.

11. Being Too Smug or Conceited

Being confident in your abilities is a great thing. But sometimes, that confidence can border on being smug or conceited. Neither is good.

If you come off pompous in an interview, you’re going to show prospective employers that you think you know it all and that you’re not a team player. Be confident, show off your knowledge and talents, but also be upfront that you’re willing to learn and are open to adaptability.

12. Poor Body Language

Poor body language isn’t just a sign of laziness, it’s disrespectful and it makes you look sloppy. When you’re sitting in someone’s office, or at a coffee shop, wherever the interview is taking place, make sure you practice good posture.

Make eye contact when you’re talking and keep fidgeting to a minimum.