Interview No-No's

In all our years of Recruiting, we have seen it all. Sometimes even something that may seem innocent, may be what’s holding you back. Here is our list of interview NO-NO’s…

• Do not badmouth previous employers, managers, companies, even if the interviewer is. – Remember, no matter how comfortable you feel with them, it is still an interview.

• Do not unload your personal life or what’s going on in it. – It’s ok to tell them about yourself but they do not need to know about your marital problems.

• Even if the interview is going well, do not let banter get too comfortable (i.e. language, getting too buddy buddy). – Remember to stay on track, and keep the focus on you and the role at hand.

• Don’t dress too lax, especially if it is virtual. Dress for the job you want. -Make sure you are presentable and professional (No t-shirts or revealing tops).

• Don’t be late or ill prepared. – Make sure to give yourself enough travel time if it is in person, and communicate if you think you might be a little late. If its virtual, log on 5 min early. Make sure your app isn’t going to update. Make sure you are in a quiet room and no one will be in the background to cause distractions. Make sure you are in a clean space with nothing inappropriate behind you.

• Don’t forget to make sure everyone in your house is aware you are on an interview and they won’t be walking in.

• Do not mention mutual connections in your favor. Make sure to remain neutral – You never know how someone feels about someone else.

• Don’t leave the interview without making sure they have gotten everything that they needed to know about you from you. – Check in with them and ask if they have any questions or need anything else from you.

• Do not tell them how much you enjoy taking vacations or how you want to leave your current job because they don’t let you take off enough.

• Do not lie about experience! If they ask if you have experience with something and you don’t, don’t lie, but also don’t just answer with a flat no. – Instead, explain why you are still qualified. And on that note, don’t drag out your non-experience dealing with something.

• Do not tell them you have never heard of the company or brand. – Lean into your Recruiter. Even with a blind interview, you should and will be prepared.

• Do not stress how over qualified you are for the job and how you can do it in your sleep. -Remember to be confident, not arrogant.

• Don’t tell the interviewer how you are not actually a fan/drinker of wine if it’s a wine company, or whiskey if its a whiskey company etc.-Instead, find something you appreciate about brand/product/process. Industry Companies want employees who love the brand.

• Do not tell them that you have more interest in another job that is not the one you are interviewing for. – Treat every job you interview for like it’s the one you want most.