6 Surefire Ways to Fail at Your Next Interview


In my long tenure of working, I have interviewed at a lot of companies and I have interviewed a lot of candidates for jobs at my own place of work. As well as looking at what you should do when it comes to interviewing for a job, looking at ways that you can fail at your next interview can be an educational experience. This article will give you some pointers on foolproof ways to fail at your next job interview.

1. Don’t research the company beforehand.

Why bother? You are being interviewed for what you can bring to the table, not on your knowledge of that company. If you had to do that for all of the companies you are interviewing at, you just might get them mixed up. Going into the interview blindly will keep your mind clear and should help you in answering their probing questions.

2. Don’t try to find a contact who works for that company.

Knowing someone who works for that particular company could lead to problems. There could be something in your past with that person that may have a detrimental effect on you getting the job. Your vast resume of job experience, or your stellar educational superlatives, should help you rise to the top of the candidate list. Adding anything else to the mix, like an inside contact within that company, could lead to complications. And utilizing job networking applications like LinkedIn may be difficult, and time-consuming, to use. And do you really want to connect with former colleagues?  You didn’t like most of them anyway.

3. Leave your portfolio of work at home.

If you have worked previously, and this isn’t your first job interview, you probably have a portfolio of your work. If you are a software developer, you probably have examples of code you have written. Or, if you are a graphic artist, you should have a portfolio of your work. But, bringing your portfolio with you is just another thing you’ll have to remember. You want to keep it simple and keep your mind clear of all distractions. If they ask you about your previous work, you should be able to explain it to them. Real-world examples may only complicate matters.

4. Dress casual.

These days business casual is typically the dress of the day. So, why not just jump into that environment for the interview as well. That should show the company that you will fit right into their workplace. In fact, you shouldn’t wear any type of suit, suit jacket, or tie, because it could send the wrong message. You want to fit in with the other employees and dressing casual will show them that you are a team player.

5. Ask about vacation time.

You know that you have that planned vacation to the islands coming up in the summer. And you want to make sure that getting this job won’t hinder going on that vacation. So, rather than waiting for the second interview, or after they have offered you the position, inquire about the vacation right off the bat. It is much better knowing this before you get too far into the interview. And if you aren’t happy with the amount of vacation that they are offering to new employees, voice your opinion. This will show that you have the ability to speak up for yourself.

6. Ask about telecommuting.

It’s the year 2010 right? And companies these days are becoming more and more progressive in their stance toward working from home. You also know that the commute to this company could be pretty taxing on your body if you have to drive in every day of the week. So, make it a point, in that first interview, to let them know that working from home, at least a few days a week, could really benefit your work productivity. Tell them how much time you will be saving not having to commute on those days. You could hit the ground running first thing in the morning and you could also work later in the day.

We all know that a job interview is an anxiety-ridden experience. But, if you really enjoy going to job interviews, by following the advice given above, chances are you’ll be going to a lot of them!


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I am a fellow cubicle dweller and have been working as a software professional for over 20 years. I have a passion site devoted to enhancing your Workspace and Cubicle Accessories. The site is called WorkspaceBliss.com. It used to be called CubicleBliss.com but I wanted to expand my reach to anyone wanting to enhance their own workspace!

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