But aside from just turning up late or an obvious lack of preparation, what are the worst things a candidate can do to guarantee rejection?
No shirt, no shoes…
As the old saying goes, you are how you look. Unfortunately however, some candidates underestimate the importance of appearance, and end up looking exactly what they are – unprofessional.
Some interview fashion faux-pas include
- The male candidate arriving to an interview wearing jeans and no top
- The female candidate offering to change shoes half-way through questioning
- A skype interview conducted entirely in pyjamas
- The candidate wearing a T shirt with the slogan “I hate work”
- The candidate overpowering the room with perfume or aftershave
Our favourite? The gentleman who arrived at the interview wearing a fishing hat full of bait !
The nervous eaters…
Unfortunately, some people get a little peckish when they’re panicking. The most sensible applicants opt for a well-balanced breakfast before the big day to avoid the mid-interview rumbles. Then there are the less sensible options…
- Someone pulling out a cereal bar from their bag when things got a little too much
- An impromptu interview picnic
- The interviewee who managed to take in a takeaway in the carpark before the interview
Bringing the best mate…
To combat interview anxiety, some candidates turn to loved ones for some much needed moral support. Unfortunately, sometimes this is taken a little further than a pre-interview phone call or text message, and applicants actually bring their sources of encouragement with them.
Moral support for certain interviewees includes
- A candidate’s best friend
- Extended members of the family (including, but not limited to, aunts and uncles)
- Spouses (A man even took his wife into the interview with him. Unfortunately, she proceeded to answer most of the questions for him).
Our favourite? The applicant that brought their mum to the interview and forgot her in the lobby after the interview
You have nothing to fear but fear itself… and ducks.
Many interviewees would admit to feeling scared before an interview. In fact, it’s a perfectly natural reaction. What isn’t as natural is running out of an interview screaming half-way through.
Our favourite unusual interview phobia was the poor young lady who applied for a job in a lake-side office but who had make a sharp exit on account of her overwhelming fear of ducks.
Finally, some of the most popular gripes from interviewers include
- People asking for a cigarette break during proceedings
- Applicants arriving with no idea what job they’re being interviewed for
- People asking their interviewers out on dates
Our favourite? One keen interviewee , who completed over half of the interview before rushing out without explanation. It turns out their parking ticket had expired. No Job! But at least they managed to avoid a fine.
Be Prepared, Be yourself,
But aside from just turning up late or an obvious lack of preparation, what are the worst things a candidate can do to guarantee rejection?
No shirt, no shoes…
As the old saying goes, you are how you look. Unfortunately however, some candidates underestimate the importance of appearance, and end up looking exactly what they are – unprofessional.
Some interview fashion faux-pas include
- The male candidate arriving to an interview wearing jeans and no top
- The female candidate offering to change shoes half-way through questioning
- A skype interview conducted entirely in pyjamas
- The candidate wearing a T shirt with the slogan “I hate work”
- The candidate overpowering the room with perfume or aftershave
Our favourite? The gentleman who arrived at the interview wearing a fishing hat full of bait !
The nervous eaters…
Unfortunately, some people get a little peckish when they’re panicking. The most sensible applicants opt for a well-balanced breakfast before the big day to avoid the mid-interview rumbles. Then there are the less sensible options…
- Someone pulling out a cereal bar from their bag when things got a little too much
- An impromptu interview picnic
- The interviewee who managed to take in a takeaway in the carpark before the interview
Bringing the best mate…
To combat interview anxiety, some candidates turn to loved ones for some much needed moral support. Unfortunately, sometimes this is taken a little further than a pre-interview phone call or text message, and applicants actually bring their sources of encouragement with them.
Moral support for certain interviewees includes
- A candidate’s best friend
- Extended members of the family (including, but not limited to, aunts and uncles)
- Spouses (A man even took his wife into the interview with him. Unfortunately, she proceeded to answer most of the questions for him).
Our favourite? The applicant that brought their mum to the interview and forgot her in the lobby after the interview
You have nothing to fear but fear itself… and ducks.
Many interviewees would admit to feeling scared before an interview. In fact, it’s a perfectly natural reaction. What isn’t as natural is running out of an interview screaming half-way through.
Our favourite unusual interview phobia was the poor young lady who applied for a job in a lake-side office but who had make a sharp exit on account of her overwhelming fear of ducks.
Finally, some of the most popular gripes from interviewers include
- People asking for a cigarette break during proceedings
- Applicants arriving with no idea what job they’re being interviewed for
- People asking their interviewers out on dates
Our favourite? One keen interviewee , who completed over half of the interview before rushing out without explanation. It turns out their parking ticket had expired. No Job! But at least they managed to avoid a fine.
Be Prepared, Be yourself,