Four Ways to Kill a Job Interview

Have you ever felt like you aced a phone interview, had really good rapport with interviewers in person, and them bam! No call back. If so, you're not alone. Maybe you've committed one of the faux pas below? 1. Appearing disinterested. According to a CareerBuilder survey, 62 percent of employers polled indicated body language in response to interviewer questions sent a message the job seeker didn't care about the job. As for the take away? Look alert, make eye contact, and act interested. 2. Answering a cell phone or texting. Puhleeze. This one needs no explanation but apparently 60 percent of employers in the survey indicated candidates actually used their mobile phones during the interview. Our advice? Power down and and keep it out of sight while devoting all of your attention to the interview itself. 3. Dressing inappropriately. You know the expression that you never get a second chance to make a first impression? Well, it's never been more true than with the job interview. Even though media folks tend to be more laid back than button down financial institutions per se, we endorse getting dressed up. Look sharp even if you're interviewing on a dress down Friday or a start-up media venture. Complete the package with a neatly styled 'do, shoes, and briefcase or portfolio. Your overall presentation is yet another facet with which you're being evaluated. In essence, interviewers will want to see if you appear professional. 4. Bad mouthing a current or former employer. Here's another major faux pas -- dishing negatively about past employers. Try to remain positive during the interview. Even if your experience was negative, end your answer on a positive note such as how you grew or lessons learned by working in a less than stellar environment.

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Four Ways to Kill a Job Interview

Vicki Salemi

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Vicki Salemi