How to mess up a job interview
We've all been interviewed for jobs. And, we've all spent most of
those interviews thinking about what not to do. Don't bite your
nails. Don't fidget. Don't interrupt. Don't belch. If we did any of
the don'ts, we knew we'd disqualify ourselves instantly. But some job
applicants go light years beyond this. We surveyed top personnel
executives of 100 major American corporations and asked for stories
of unusual behavior by job applicants. The lowlights:
- "...stretched out on the floor to fill out the job application."
- "She used an iPod and said she could listen to me and the music at
the same time."
- "A balding candidate abruptly excused himself. Returned to office a
few minutes later, wearing a hairpiece."
- "...asked to see interviewer's resume to see if the personnel
executive was qualified to judge the candidate."
- "... announced she hadn't had lunch and proceeded...