Top 5 Job Interview Blunders

It’s inevitable.  Yes, that’s right.  It’s bound to happen to you sooner or later.  What is it?  The job interview.  Today let’s take a look at what a job interview is designed to do and the top 5 job interview blunders of all time.  This will be an educational post that you can pass on to those you know who may be interviewing now, or perhaps you can take notes, bookmark this page and refer back to it later when you are facing the ultimate job showdown.  After the jump let’s dig in.

Let’s face it, times are tough everywhere.  You probably know someone who is looking for a job.  Maybe that someone is you.  By paying attention to a few details, you can increase your chances of landing that killer job.  Here are the top 5 job interview blunders and what you can do to overcome them. If you take the time to master these five tips, and you will be leaps and bounds above your competition.

#5 – Appearance
First impressions are very important. They are so important, in fact, that they can cost you the job. When dressing up for a job interview, you should dress as if you are already working the position just above where you are applying for. What’s that? Yes, you read it right. If you are applying for a regular worker bee position, then for the interview you should dress like the manager of that area does during the day. Why go through the hassle? Because it shows the boss that you have given enough thought to the job to dress appropriately and that you have motivation and drive to even go beyond, should the opportunity arise. Dressing down or overdoing it with bling will kill your chances for sure. One side note here: every business is different, so make some observations before the interview so you can get it right.

#4 – Responsibility
While the number of jobs you have held does make a difference, what is almost equally as important is the reason you left those jobs in the first place. Let’s put it this way: if you blame everything on your former employers because of a “personality conflict” (i.e., meaning they just don’t like you or you can’t get along with them), then the chances are the person you are interviewing with is going to feel like you probably won’t get along with them either. Put another way, if five out of five people call you a donkey, you’re probably a donkey. Take some of the responsibility and admit it when you’ve made a mistake. Honesty is a much better policy, even if it means admitting when you’re wrong.

#3 – Sell, Don’t Tell
It is true that a job interview is as much about you selling yourself to the company as it is about getting your questions answered. That being said, selling yourself doesn’t mean telling everything about you. There is such a thing as TMI – “too much information”. In addition, don’t tell the boss what to do. Remember, you’re the one interviewing for the job here. Unless the interviewer asks for your feedback based on a certain scenario, it’s best to avoid acting like you know the business better than they do.

#2 – Punctuality
Remember what we discussed about first impressions? Well, that also applied to being on time. Let’s face it, the job interview is more important than any other day on the job will be. If you can’t make it to the interview on time, how in the world can the boss expect you to be on time for day-to-day job duties? In fact, I would recommend being 10 to 15 minutes early for the interview, to ensure that there isn’t a mix-up with the timing from your watch or clock to the office time. Punctuality is another item that you simply cannot compromise with and come out on top.

#1 – Information, Please
It goes without saying these days that everyone needs a resume. Let me rephrase that. It should go without saying, unfortunately, that is not the case. However, giving out your information does not stop there. You should also be sure and fill out the job application and any included paperwork completely. Nothing says “I don’t care” more that incomplete paperwork. This also includes signing the application. Again, if you can’t be bothered to sign it, why should they bother to hire you?