| As part of my job, I give interview advice to | | | | one question only. After thinking intently |
| candidates applying for travel jobs. When I | | | | for a few minutes, she said "Are you going |
| ask them how it went afterwards, most people | | | | anywhere nice on your holidays this summer?" |
| don't come out remembering what went right. | | | | |
| They remember the bad things. The joke that | | | | Interview Tip: You know that you'll be |
| fell flat, the awkward silence halfway | | | | expected to ask questions at the end of a job |
| through, the question that left them | | | | interview, and there's no excuse not to |
| scrabbling for an inadequate answer. And | | | | prepare a few. Keep your questions focused on |
| while some people just seem to have the knack | | | | the job and the company, and use it as an |
| for doing well in job interviews, most of us | | | | opportunity to further express your interest |
| have probably had at least one complete | | | | in both. |
| interview disaster in our time. | | | | |
| | | | 5 - "I'm sorry, what was your name again?" |
| But it's not all bad - however poorly a job | | | | |
| interview has gone, you can always be | | | | During one job interview, a candidate |
| reassured by the fact that someone, | | | | complained at length about his previous boss. |
| somewhere, has done much, much worse than you | | | | Unfortunately, he didn't realize that the |
| ever have. Here are ten of the worst | | | | interviewer and his former employer were |
| interview howlers that I've heard of, and ten | | | | closely related, and even had the same last |
| pieces of interview advice that can help you | | | | name. |
| to avoid the same mistakes. | | | | |
| | | | Interview Tip: This man was particularly |
| 10 - Who are you, and what am I doing? | | | | unlucky, but it just goes to show that it is |
| | | | never a good idea to badmouth your former |
| After a telesales job interview that had gone | | | | employer. |
| well, the candidate surprised the panel by | | | | |
| saying, offhand, "By the way, I don't do cold | | | | 4 - "So tell me, what is your biggest |
| calling." | | | | weakness?" |
| | | | |
| Interview tip: Do your research. Make sure | | | | When pressed to answer this question, one |
| you fully understand what the company does | | | | candidate answered "My dishonesty." |
| and what your job entails, otherwise you're | | | | |
| likely to make an obvious mistake. | | | | Interview Tip: This is a difficult question |
| | | | to answer. Responses like "I work too hard" |
| 9 - Job Train-ing | | | | are no good, and owning up to a severe |
| | | | character flaw might sink your application. |
| After an unsuccessful job interview, one | | | | Pick a weakness that is true but that won't |
| candidate followed his interviewer to the | | | | affect the job that you are going for. For |
| train station. He spent the rest of the train | | | | example, being erratic at paperwork is a |
| journey pleading with her to give him the | | | | disaster for an admin role, but is only a |
| job. | | | | minor drawback for a sales position. |
| | | | |
| Interview Tip: Enthusiasm is good, | | | | 3 - Mums the word! |
| desperation is not. Accept it if you haven't | | | | |
| got the job - hassling your interviewer isn't | | | | Everyone knows that you have to switch your |
| likely to get you anything except a | | | | phone off during a job interview. But one |
| restraining order. | | | | candidate, after the first few questions, got |
| | | | his phone out and called his parents to let |
| 8 - Fancy your chances? | | | | them know how well the interview was going. |
| | | | |
| One candidate concluded a job interview by | | | | Interview tip: Stay focused during an |
| asking the interviewer out on a date. | | | | interview. Don't get complacent if you think |
| | | | it is going well, and don't be discouraged if |
| Interview Tip: No matter how well you think | | | | you feel it is going badly. |
| an interview has gone, this really isn't a | | | | |
| good idea. Make sure you end it | | | | 2 - A picture is worth a thousand words... |
| professionally. | | | | |
| | | | One candidate was asked to draw a picture |
| 7 - Demonstrate your skills | | | | that best described him. He drew a clown with |
| | | | blood pouring from its eyes, ears and nose. |
| When asked to give a practical demonstration | | | | |
| of his abilities during a job interview, this | | | | Interview Tip: Interviewers are looking for |
| candidate got out a deck of cards and | | | | people who can both fill the role and work |
| proceeded to perform a series of magic | | | | well with other people. Worrying personality |
| tricks. | | | | traits can be just as off putting as a lack |
| | | | of experience or inadequate skills, so be on |
| Interview tip: You don't need interview | | | | your best behavior in the interview room. |
| advice to tell you that this is a bad idea. | | | | |
| Remain professional at all times! Silly | | | | 1 - Murder, she said |
| jokes, inappropriate clothes and strange | | | | |
| behavior are all guaranteed to put an | | | | No matter what unfortunate facts from your |
| interviewer off. | | | | past happen to surface in a job interview, |
| | | | you can't cause more alarm than this woman |
| 6 - Any questions? | | | | did. Alarmingly, in the middle of the |
| | | | interview she managed to imply that she'd |
| At the end of a job interview, this candidate | | | | murdered her husband. |
| was told that she could ask one question and | | | | |