Common mistakes in Interviews.

Top mistakes candidates make

By Sally Cannan; Manager HR Solutions, Drake International

Not feeling so great about your last interview? Take heart. Chances are the interviewer has seen worse. A recent survey of managers was conducted to identify the most common mistakes candidates make. Here are the top five.

1. What they say (or don't say)

   The No1 mistake interviewees make relates to how they communicate. Some come in with a pre-determined script and sound as if they're reading from a textbook. Others give one-worded answers with no further elaboration. While still others use profanity or ramble on about their personal problems and social lives rather than answer - or ask - questions about the job or company.

   Others complain about former bosses. And many make the mistake of bringing up money and hours-required in the first interview. But the "Too Much Information" award has to go to the candidate who said: "I'm only here because my mum wants me to get a job". He was 37!

2. How they act

   The second most common mistake is being unprepared and knowing nothing about the job or company. Others include that candidates don't listen to the questions being asked or try to bluff their way through technical questions.

   Some stem from a lack of common sense or courtesy. Many hiring managers complain about candidates showing up late and the surprising number who interrupt the interview to take calls on their cell phones. One woman brought her children along.

3. Bad attitudes

   The third most-cited category of mistakes has to do with the candidate's attitude. No one likes a braggart, know-it-all or name-dropper - or the candidate with the super-sized ego who demands to be hired and says the company can do no better. One interviewee declared he was "used to a higher class of business".

   On the other side of the coin, there are those who show no enthusiasm. One candidate spent the better part of the interview looking at his watch.

4. How they look

   Coming to the interview improperly groomed and dressed is the fourth most common mistake. The usual culprits include: bad posture, tattoos, facial piercings, fluorescent-coloured hair and poor hygiene. Managers also told of a candidate who did not wear shoes and another wore dark glasses throughout the interview.

5. They're dishonest

   Common forms of dishonesty include exaggerating about achievements or misrepresenting knowledge. There's also the candidate who mentioned his arrest after saying on his application he had never been arrested - and the one who actually stole something from the interviewer's office.