To Not Do

Aspects to Avoid

• Be late for the interview. Tardiness is a sign of irresponsibility or disorganisation and the employer could take it as what to expect in the future.
• Arrive unprepared for the interview.
• Say unfavourable things about previous employers. Make excuses for failings.
• Give vague responses to questions.
• Show lack of career planning - no goals or purpose could convey the impression you're merely shopping around or only want the job for a short time.
• Show too much concern about rapid advancement.
• Over emphasise money. Your interviewing goal is to sell yourself to the interviewer and to get an offer of employment. Salary discussion is secondary.
• Refuse to travel and/or relocate. Always be open for discussion concerning travel and relocation. The employer may be talking about future plans, not present.
• Show any reservations you may have about the role/company. You can always turn down second interviews and job offers after you have had time to appraise your concerns in the cold light of day.
• Demonstrate low moral standards.
• Express strong prejudices or any personal intolerance.
• Leave your mobile phone on during the interview.

Body Language

• Have a poor/limp handshake.
• Display laziness.
• Be aggressive or act in a superior, conceited or overbearing way.
• Have a poor voice, diction or grammar.
• Look distracted, look down or avoid eye contact.
• Talk too much. Answer questions as asked, without being abrupt; expound only to the point that the interviewer has a clear understanding of what you mean.
• Lose concentration or attention.

A selection of potential questions is located in the next section, Their Questions.