interviews

A Job Interview may not always go smoothly. But to what extent can an interview go wrong and how badly?

How you present yourself in a job interview is the determining factor in whether or not you will land a job. According to a study by Anderson & Shackleton in the Journal of Occupational Psychology, people who are perceived as “relaxed, interesting, strong, ambitious, mature and pleasant” are the ones who tend to get hired.¹ That is a vibe that employers can pick up quickly. In fact, a survey of 2,000 employers revealed that 33% of interviewers know whether or not they will hire applicants within 30 seconds of meeting them.²

“33% of interviewers know within 30 seconds of meeting someone whether or not they will hire them”

This is an alarming statistic and for many people it is difficult to maintain composure under the stress of an interview. It’s no wonder there are a number of job interview horror stories. Here are ten noteworthy interview fails, each accompanied by tips to help you prepare for your next interview and avoid similar mistakes. Integrate these interview tips and skills into your repertoire, and next time you will have the know how to ace that job interview.

1. Bomb the First Impression

One interview candidate was running late and so frazzled that he left home for the interview wearing two different shoes, and his prescription sunglasses instead of his eyeglasses! Suffice it to say, the cool “hipster” look came off as unprofessional and he did not get the job.

Advice: While it’s hard to believe that someone could actually do that, the message here is clear: Make a good first impression. In most cases, opt for business attire, understated makeup and jewelry, good grooming, and excellent hygiene.

2. Be a Negative Nelly

Another interviewee when asked about her last job, went off on a tangent ranting about her old boss and spent a good portion of the interview badmouthing him – only to find out that he was a relative of the interviewer!

Advice: Even if you have strong feelings about someone, there are ways of being authentic without being negative. Sometimes a short, polite answer can speak volumes. At any rate, be respectful when talking about your former employers and coworkers, as bashing an old employer creates a negative vibe and can tank your interview.

3. Make Yourself at Home… Literally!

Believe it or not, there are a number of reports of people falling asleep during job interviews! One job interview candidate even removed their socks and shoes during an interview, because she felt it was too hot in the room!

Advice: While it’s great to be calm and collected during an interview, don’t over do it. The interviewer has just met you, so remain professional and be aware of appropriate boundaries. Don’t start getting casual until you have landed the job, but generally speaking, you probably don’t want to fall asleep or take your shoes off if hope to keep your job for a long time!

4. Don’t Think Before Speaking

A job candidate was asked one of the standard interview questions, “What is your greatest accomplishment?” She replied, “Writing my first novel.” When the interviewer said, “We mean something you have accomplished in a work setting.” she replied, “Well, actually I wrote most of it while at work!”

Advice: While this is an amusing anecdote, a prospective employer does not want to hear that you work on your own projects while on their clock. When asked a question, be sure to pause for a moment or two and consider the impact your answer might have.

“When asked a question, be sure to pause for a moment or two and consider the impact your answer might have.”

5. Tell a Few Politically Incorrect Jokes

One job interview candidate was reported to have made derogatory comments about a Country. Sure enough, the interviewer was from the same Country!

Advice: While it’s natural to want to break the ice with a joke, stick to neutral topics that have no risk of offending anybody. Avoid topics like religion, politics or anything that might offend a particular group.

6. Bring your Cell, so You Can Phone a Friend for the Hard Questions!

After being asked a particularly tough question, one woman stopped her interviewer, and asked if she could dial her therapist! Needless to say, she did not get the job.

Advice: An interview is not the time to “phone a friend.” Be sure that you are as prepared as possible when walking through the door. If you’re hit with a question that seems out of left field, trust your instincts and give your best answer.

7. Break a Law or Two, and Tell the World About it!

As one interview was getting started, the candidate revealed that by crossing the state line to attend the interview, he was in violation of his probation, but that he felt the interview was worth risking the possible jail time. Yikes!

Advice: Maybe it goes without being said, but you should not break the law to attend an interview, and you should also be selective about what you reveal from your past. Everyone has a few skeletons in their closet. If it’s not relevant, don’t share it.

8. Don’t Waste Your Time Preparing

Almost every interview includes some form of the classic question, “What is your greatest weakness?” Some not-so-great answers on record are: “I have a bad temper, and when I get really angry have been known to throw things,” or “I love to gossip.”

Advice: Interviewers have heard all of the canned, cheesy answers like, “I’m a workaholic,” or, “Some might say I’m loyal to a fault.” The best way to approach this interview question is to state a true weakness and moderate it with steps you have taken to counter it. Here are some examples:

• “Being organized just wasn’t my strongest point, but now I’ve implemented a time-management system that has really helped me stay organized.”
• “I’m somewhat of a perfectionist, so in the past I have gotten caught up in checking every little detail and wasted a lot of time. However, over time I’ve developed a balanced approach that is less time consuming.”
• “I used to want to control every aspect of a project myself, but now I’ve gotten really good at delegating appropriately.”

9. Don’t Plan for the Unexpected

Recently, many companies like Google and other high profile tech companies are mixing it up with some seemingly oddball interview questions. When one applicant was asked, “What person would you like to have dinner with, living or dead?” He replied, “The living one.” Probably not what the interviewer had in mind! Here are some other examples of non-traditional interview questions:

• “If you could be any superhero, who would it be?”
• “What animal best represents your personality, and why?”
• “How would you move Mount Vesuvius?”
• “What color characterizes you, and why?”
• “What was your best McGyver moment?”

Advice: The purpose of this type of question is not to stump you, but to see if you can think on your feet, and how creative you are. Many employers want to see a bit of your character along with your credentials, so have fun with these questions (within reason!) and let your personality shine.

10. Part in Awkward Manner

One job applicant made quite the exit when he got up to leave the interview and walked straight into a glass door, shattering it into pieces! Fortunately, he was not hurt, but his chances at getting the job were.

Advice: Your final impression is just as important as your first. Exit the interview as gracefully and professionally as possible.

“Do your homework and research the company you interviewing with.”
So there you have it — ten of the biggest interview fails reported on the Internet. Could you imagine being in one these situations? Maybe the sheer embarrassment and awkwardness of it all is enough to help you avoid the situation in the future. If you’re still unsure, check out our interview hints and tips page by following this link. They will no doubt help you avoid making the same mistakes. Do your homework and research the company you interviewing with. Practice makes perfect. Find a partner and do some mock interviews using the job interview tricks explained above, and you will have the know-how to ace the job interview and land your dream job!

– Brad Zomick