The Biggest Job Interview Mistakes

You walk into the company headquarters, sit down with the head of personnel and – proceed to bribe him?

According to a new survey, that’s just one of the unlikely scenarios that actually happened in the increasingly bizarre world of job seeking.

OfficeTeam, an employment firm, asked 508 people in charge of hiring at businesses across Canada about some of the strangest things applicants have tried to do. And the responses are classic examples of how not to succeed in business without really trying.

In one instance, a job seeker was so anxious to get the position, she offered her would-be boss a bribe during the interview.

That pales in chutzpah, though, to the George Costanza-like guy who was told he was rejected – then showed up anyway the next day to start work.

Then there was the applicant who came in with his recruiter and insisted on letting his helper answer all the questions.

Another made a less than favourable impression by showing up to the interview in flip flops, blue jeans and a torn shirt.

One was asked the standard question about his biggest faults. But instead of giving a single example, the wanna-be worker kept going on and on about how many flaws he had.

Then there are the people who misspell words on their resume, submit stained or soiled covering letters, admit they’re really not qualified for the opening, are rude to receptionists, talk only about money or don’t even bother to learn the name of the person they’re in front of.

But our favourite involves the guy who called to inquire about a job by phone but failed to hang up properly once he finished talking to the company rep. As the startled interviewer listened in, he heard the applicant talk about how badly the conversation went and how much he didn’t like the person he’d just been speaking with.  

Which just proves that old cliche about how first impressions last.

“Job seekers are being evaluated from the moment they submit a resume,” suggests OfficeTeam’s Diane Domeyer in a statement.  “It’s critical that applicants behave professionally and treat everyone they encounter, from the receptionist to the person they bump into in the elevator, as someone who may weigh in on the hiring decision.”

Her advice to those out looking for work: present yourself with a positive attitude, be polite, don’t mention salary or vacation in the initial interview unless the potential employer brings it up, don’t pad your resume, try and anticipate the questions in advance to help you formulate short and positive answers and don’t follow up afterwards so much that you drive your would-be boss crazy.

And oh yeah, if you do get an employer on the phone, be sure to hang up when you’re done. You never know who might still be listening.

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