Make It or Break It: The Top Five Turn Offs for Prospective Employers

by Chris Waters, Research Manager, Acclivity Healthcare

You’ve spent countless hours searching for jobs, filling out applications and waiting for that phone call from a hiring manager asking you to come in for an interview. Finally, you get that call and proceed to spend even more time preparing yourself to make a great impression. You’ve worked very hard and consumed many hours trying to land your interview, so take our advice and don’t let one of these interview-killers stand in your way:

1. Arriving Late to the Interview: Showing up late for an interview can kill your chances before you even walk in the door. Map out the location of the interview in advance, and plan to arrive in the office about ten minutes before your scheduled interview time.
2. Not Doing Your Research: When stepping into an interview it is important to be armed with information on the company you are interviewing with. Prepare a few questions for the end of the interview pertaining to the information you have found. Doing so will show the employer that you have a genuine interest in their company.
3. Lousy Communication Skills: Everything from your appearance to your words and actions leave an impression on the hiring manager in an interview. When first meeting the hiring manager, be sure to greet them with a firm handshake and a smile. Speak clearly, sit up straight, and maintain good eye contact. Maintaining good verbal and non-verbal communication skills will demonstrate confidence and show your potential employer that you are just as interested as you say you are.
4. Rambling: Talking too much in an interview will hurt your chances more than help them. Keep your answers short and on point. They should be 60 to 90 seconds long and have relevant points to the question. The hiring manager does not want to hear your life story but rather how your professional experience will benefit their organization.
5. Excessive Follow-Up: After leaving your interview it is always appropriate to follow up, however, following up too much can kill your chances of getting the offer. Within a day or two after the interview, write the hiring manager a follow-up note thanking them for their time and expressing interest in the position but continue your search in the meantime. Hiring the right employee takes more time than you think.

You can easily avoid these major interview-killers by planning ahead, preparing for the interview, and maintaining a confident and calm composure. Don’t let all of the time you’ve invested in finding a new job go to waste now. Make your interview count!