More things you may not want to say or do in an interview

Each year CareerBuilder releases a list of shocking yet hilariously entertaining interviewing gaffes made by job seekers the previous year. Even though only a small proportion of job seekers are bound to commit such gaffes, and what’s below constitutes the crème de la crème of interviewing blunders, it goes without saying that what follows should neither be repeated nor attempted…by anyone. Those hiring managers polled reported the following as the “most outrageous blunders they had encountered interviewing candidates”:

• Provided a detailed listing of how previous employers made them mad.
• Hugged hiring manager at the end of the interview.
• Ate all the candy from the candy bowl while trying to answer questions.
• Constantly bad mouthed spouse.
• Blew their nose and lined up the used tissues on the table in front of them.
• Brought a copy of their college diploma that had obviously been white-outed and their name added.
• Wore a hat that said “take this job and shove it.”
• Talked about how an affair cost them a previous job.
• Threw their beer can in the outside trashcan before coming into the reception office.
• Had a friend come in and ask “HOW MUCH LONGER?”

Although at times absurd, the above list, like last year’s, demonstrates a pervasive need for career training and career education across the workforce. For example, according to CareerBuilder’s report a shocking 71% of hiring managers responded that interviewees “answer[ed] a cell phone or text[ed] during the interview,” and an unbelievable 59% of hiring managers commented that they had participated in interviews in which the interviewee chewed gum during the interview’s duration. While we may not all commit such blunders, it is always important to take time to review proper interviewing etiquette before going into an interview. And given the exceptional degree to which hiring managers are, or can be sensitive to interview-related mistakes, it behooves job seekers everywhere not to make any of the above mistakes.

For additional interviewing tips and advice, see: