6 Things You Should Never Do At A Job Interview

Today we’re going to lay out some of the things you should never do at a job interview. If some seem like common sense, I assure you: Common sense isn’t so common. Others may seem completely insane, but I promise you they actually happen.

1. Don’t bring your mom to a job interview

Your mother need not accompany you to a job interview. I cannot tell you how many helicopter parents insisted on not only helping their adult child fill out the job application, but also sit it on the interview with them.

The only person who should be sitting in a job interview is you. It’s incredibly distracting if your mom is there judging the whole thing and interjecting while you’re trying to answer interview questions.

Your mom also shouldn’t be calling recruiters to yell at them for not getting you a job fast enough. First of all, that’s not a recruiter’s job. Second, it’s rude. Third, it’s just embarrassing.

There are lots of things you should never do at a job interview, and this one is definitely at the top of the list.

2. Don’t be rude to the secretary

Before I was actually interviewing people for jobs I was the administrative assistant at the front desk. That means I was the first point of contact for many of these job candidates.

Here’s a little insider secret: secretaries are not only gate-keepers, they’re also spies. If a secretary doesn’t like you they will put up the iron clad gates and not let your call through to their boss. Furthermore, if you’re rude to them you can surely bet they’re letting their boss know.

There were many a times when I would let recruiters or my boss know when a candidate was down right awful to me. Do you think they would get the job? Nope.

Moral of the story: be nice to everyone.

3 .Don’t ever say “I don’t remember what I applied for”

Job hunting is supposed to be strategic. Meaning you should only apply to the jobs for which you are well-suited. What most people do is send off a resume to every job opening. 

By the time candidates would reach me they would have no idea what they’d applied for, what position they were interviewing for, or where else they’d sent their resume. Out of all the things you should never do at a job interview, this is probably one of the worst.

This makes you look very, very bad. First, it looks like you don’t care about the company. Second, it looks like you’ll take any job you can. And let me tell you, desperation during a job interview is not cute.

4. Don’t steal

I warned you that some examples would be absurd, but the reason I’m mentioning this is because it actually happens. I had my wallet stolen by someone I interviewed for a job and my co-worker had their laptop stolen.

The craziest part is we had the culprit’s actual information when they filled out a job application so the cops were able find them, though, unfortunately, my wallet did not survive.

5. Don’t wear inappropriate clothing

How many article are available online about how to dress for a job interview? Is it not common knowledge to dress professionally? Apparently not.

I saw everything from stripper heels to nip slips as a recruiter. In fact, there was at least one wardrobe malfunction a week.

6. Don’t lie

Seasoned recruiters are really good about not only knowing when a candidate is lying, but digging deep to find the real story. Seriously, it’s almost like we’re job detectives.

Don’t ever lie on your resume or during your job interview. Anyone can Google you and find out what you’re up to. Furthermore, background check technology goes deeper than ever before.

And guess what? If you were ever arrested or have a fishy legal background it’s public record. In some counties you can look that information up in an online database without having to pay a dime.

So, please, do yourself a favor and don’t lie. It’s better to be honest and have a chance to explain yourself than get caught in a lie.