12 things recruiters say drive them crazy in job interviews
By Áine Cain | September 29, 2017
Grab a celebratory coffee after the interview — not before. Boyloso/Shutterstock
To err is human.
Even experienced job candidates sometimes flub a question during the interview. But odds are, if you're a great fit, you'll survive an awkward pause or two.
Recruiters are far less forgiving of other mistakes, however.
Recruiting software company Jobvite recently released a survey breaking down recruiter preferences and biases. It commissioned Zogby Analytics to run an online poll of 831 recruiters in the US.
Part of the survey looked into behaviors recruiters say could ruin an applicant's chances.
Here are some interview mistakes, behaviors, and choices that could immediately disqualify a job candidate:
- Failing to wear enough makeup
Percentage of recruiters who said this behavior would immediately disqualify a candidate: 1%
You really shouldn't concern yourself with wearing enough makeup to a job interview. Only 1% of recruiters were fixated on this. Besides, would you even want to work with people who care deeply about whether or not you wear bronzer?
- Dressing unfashionably
Percentage of recruiters who said this behavior would immediately disqualify a candidate: 4%
Fashion is in the eye of the beholder, so this also seems like a pretty subjective issue. Still, it's a good idea to avoid a potential pitfall by asking about the company's dress code before the interview.
- Wearing too much makeup
Percentage of recruiters who said this behavior would immediately disqualify a candidate: 5%
A small fraction of recruiters might take issue with what they perceive as heavy make-up. Then again, if bold new shades of lipstick and eye shadow are your thing but not the company's, the culture might not be a good fit anyway.
- Having a terrible handshake
Percentage of recruiters who said this behavior would immediately disqualify a candidate: 6%
Make sure you send the right message with your handshake. If you're interviewing abroad, this is especially important — handshake etiquette varies widely across cultures.
- Bringing a drink to the interview
Percentage of recruiters who said this behavior would immediately disqualify a candidate: 14%
A good number of recruiters would greatly prefer if you grabbed something from Starbucks after the interview. It will make that initial handshake less clumsy, anyway.
- Dressing too casually
Percentage of recruiters who said this behavior would immediately disqualify a candidate: 24%
Nearly a quarter of recruiters won't tolerate overly casual dress from a candidate. While going overboard could signal a culture misfit in the other direction, it's always a good idea to dress at least slightly nicer for the interview than you would the job itself. As they say, dress for the job you want, not the job you have.
- Bringing food to the interview
Percentage of recruiters who said this behavior would immediately disqualify a candidate: 38%
Almost two out of five recruiters will be pretty annoyed if you show up with a Big Mac from McDonald's or a burrito bowl from Chipotle. Consider treating yourself once the interview's over.
- Interrupting the interviewer
Percentage of recruiters who said this behavior would immediately disqualify a candidate: 39%
Interruptions are par for the course in any lively conversation, but they're best avoided. If you want to avoid butting in on your interviewer, consider briefly pausing before you speak.
- Having bad hygiene
Percentage of recruiters who said this behavior would immediately disqualify a candidate: 52%
This one should go without saying, but over half of the recruiters surveyed said they'd reject candidates with bad hygiene. So make sure you look – and smell — your best before you head out to your interview.
- Coming in late
Percentage of recruiters who said this behavior would immediately disqualify a candidate: 58%
Plan your day so you show up for your job interview 10 to 15 minutes ahead of schedule. You definitely don't want to come in too early, but many respondents said they found tardiness unacceptable.
- Checking your phone during the interview
Percentage of recruiters who said this behavior would immediately disqualify a candidate: 71%
Put your phone away during job interview. If you don't, you'll signal that you have more important things on your mind than the interview. This would end up seriously ticking off most recruiters you encounter.
- Being rude to the receptionist and support staff
Percentage of recruiters who said this behavior would immediately disqualify a candidate: 86%
Be nice to people. First of all, it's the right thing to do. Secondly, even though you may think no one's watching, word's bound to get back to the hiring manager if you're snippy to the receptionist, secretary, or other staffers at the company you're looking to join.
