Are you a recent grad who’s been diligently sending out resumes and scoring first-round interviews, but no bites after that? Eh, the job market’s still tough, it probably isn’t you, it’s — oh wait, maybe it is you. There are certain behaviors that even well-meaning job seekers engage in that ensure they’ll never get hired. Avoid the following if you want to ace the interview and land the job:
- Your Resume Is Too Long: So you’ve been out of school for three months, but your resume is already three pages long? I’m calling your bluff. Recruiters and hiring managers don’t want to sift through endless resumes that list every class and extra curricular you’ve ever taken — all the way back to high school. That just looks like you’re padding your experience. Plus, being able to succinctly describe your accomplishments, and pick out the ones that really deserve to be showcased, points to well-developed critical thinking skills and decision-making abilities.
- Your Resume Is Too Short: On the flip side, if your resume can fit inside a Tweet, that’s also no bueno. A too-short resume indicates a lack of experience, or an inability to accurately describe your previous work and internship experiences. Try to make your resume about a page long (without using 16-pt font) and focus on describing your roles and accomplishments using engaging action words, so hiring managers really get a good feel for what you can bring to the table.
- You Ask Obvious Questions About the Company: “So, what does [insert company that’s definitely not going to hire you here]actually do?” Asking super obvious questions about the company you’re interviewing at means one of two things: 1) You don’t know how to use Google, or 2) You’d rather waste the hiring manager’s time than figure out the basics for yourself — and both will guarantee you won’t make it to a second interview.
- You Don’t Ask Any Questions: The only thing worse than asking super obvious questions during an interview is not asking anything at all. When the hiring manager asks, “Do you have any questions for me?,” it’s not really a question — it’s an invitation to show off your curiosity, communication skills, and knowledge about the company. If you don’t ask any follow-up questions, you’ll give out a “know-it-all” vibe, so brush up on your question-asking skills to make a good impression.
- You Didn’t Send a Thank You Note: Email or snail doesn’t matter, but if you don’t follow up, you’re making sure you’re that much more forgettable. Your thank you note doesn’t have to be long and gushy, but try to work in something specific from the interview — thanking the interviewer for answering a particular question, for example — to make you stick out.
- Your Dress Did Not Impress: If you’re rolling up to the interview with an untucked shirt, ripped jeans, and sneaks, just turn around now. Hiring managers absolutely will judge you on the way you dress, and with good reason — appropriately dressed interviewees show they know how to fit into the corporate world, and that specific company in particular.
- You’re Not on LinkedIn: If a job-seeking professional isn’t on LinkedIn, does he or she even exist? In some hiring manager’s eyes, the answer may be no. Interviewers may turn to LinkedIn to get the low down on you before the interview or to refresh their memory of different candidates after all the interviews have taken place, so you want to make sure your LinkedIn profile is in shipshape. That means a summary free of typos, a professional-looking photo, and a completely filled-out profile.
- You Don’t Have Any Experience: You can only learn so much in the classroom, so hiring managers want to see that you have some real-world experience, whether it’s a previous job, internship, or even a volunteer position (bonus points if you held a leadership role). And you don’t necessarily have to sweat it if your previous experience isn’t directly related to the job you’re applying for; especially if it’s an entry-level position, just showing you have experience working in some type of professional setting can give you a leg up.
- You Were Late to the Interview: And yes, three minutes late still counts as late. First impressions count, and if you’re not even there on time to give a first impression, well, we don’t blame the hiring manager for assuming the worst about an interviewee. Arrive at least a few minutes early, and if you’re worried about the interview location being hard to find, do a transit test run the week before.
- You Weren’t Passionate: If you answer, “Why do you want this job?” with “Because I need a job,” it’s safe to say you just shot yourself in the foot. Hiring managers want to see candidates with enthusiasm and passion for the position. Even if this isn’t your dream job, find a way to link the job’s responsibilities and growth potential to your interests.
What other irksome interview behaviors practically guarantee someone will never get hired? Share your advice on what to avoid in the comments below!
