As a recruiter, I crave feedback from companies as to why they loved or hated my candidates. I screen all of my candidates, and only present the ones with the most applicable experience. So barring any wackiness, they should all be qualified for the position.
If that worked out in real life, and I placed every candidate I presented, I would be a bizillionaire. So obviously it doesn’t work that way. Sometimes candidates are genuinely good, but they found someone else that is just a better fit for the position. This I can live with. I can present that candidate again to another agency with a similar opening.
Then there is the feedback that makes my skin crawl. The stuff that makes me, in turn look like I’m totally incompetent – and this HR Chick hates that! Most of them are classic rookie mistakes. I actually go over details including what to wear etc. with my candidates, but stuff seems to slip through the cracks – possibly because I think they are things everyone should inherently know. Being that I have learned otherwise, I am here to spell ‘em out for ya!
1. Be on time. I don’t know how much more I can stress this. Map your journey ahead of time. Then add AT LEAST a half hour for unexpected traffic or whatever. Even better – do the drive the night before to really be prepared. Then again, add in time for unexpected traffic.
2. Don’t show up too early. Yes, I know – I told you to add extra time to your journey and guess what – you were lucky and breezed right on down the freeway and you are 45 minutes early. Well – sit in your car or find somewhere to go for a half hour. You should never show up more than 15 minutes before an interview.
3. Expect to fill out a job application. This means having phone numbers and other contact info ready to go in your blackberry or iPhone. You don’t have to write a novel – just answer the questions – and don’t take an hour to do it. If it takes you that long, you have proven you are not good under pressure.
4. Your sunglass are not an accessory. If you needed them for the drive, take them off and place in your purse/briefcase before you get to the interview. They should not adorn the top of your head like a headband.
5. Do not chew gum. Ever. Spit it out before you go into the building. Swallow it if you have to. I’m sure that whole ”it takes a year to get through your system” thing is an urban legend.
6. Wear a suit. Even if you know that it’s a relatively casual place to work – wear a suit. You don’t work there yet and they want to see you in your Sunday best.
7. Let the interviewer talk. So many interviewers complain that the applicant had high energy – but that they couldn’t get a word in edgewise. This makes interviewers nervous because they think they will have to spend too much time managing you. Answer the questions completely – but get to the point already.
8. Get your nerves in check. If you know that you are generally a nervous person, go for some interview coaching with a reputable company. Remember to blink. Staring scares people. Try to relax. Looking like you are going to pass out scares people. Sweating bullets scares people. Do what you have to do to get this in check. No matter how awesome your resume, if they think you may snap and go postal one day, you aren’t going to get the job.
9. Take water if they ask if you’d like water or coffee. You may get parched and having that water will be a lifesaver. Accepting coffee says you are needy. Unless you take it black.
10. Don’t curse. While certain words may have become more accepted, never ever use them in an interview setting. Especially when referring to ex-bosses or co-workers. Cause if you bad mouth them, it make it look like you can’t play nice with others. So when in an interview, talk they way you would talk to a nun or your grandma, unless of course, she too has the mouth of a sailor.
So if you are lucky enough to get an interview, don’t mess it up with one of these silly mistakes. We really want you to get the job. Trust me on that one!
