8 ways to ruin a job interview

When at a job interview there are many mistakes you can make. Some are only minor but they may well destroy your chances of getting the job. Here we have eight that will ruin your interview if you make them, so lets not.

1. Pretending you have no weaknesses. - When in an interview you may get asked 'what is your greatest weakness?' if you answer with 'I don't have any' or 'I work too hard' the interview will know you are lying. Candidates who cannot or will not make a realistic assessment of themselves are lacking insight and self-awareness.

2. Sharing too much personal information. - There can be information the interviewer does not need to know. One example is the candidate who went into too much detail about the sex column she wrote for her campus newspaper during an interview.

3. Answering your mobile phone. - Your phone should be switched off.  Not even on silent.  Just off. Even on silent the interviewer will be able to hear it vibrate if it does go off you should apologise and don't answer it.

4. Asking questions that you should know already - Some candidates have been known to ask questions such as 'What does the company do?' this will not help your application.   We are regularly amazed that Finalists in Alan Sugar's The Apprentice often seem to share lack of preparation.

5. Saying bad things about your old boss. - You can never know who knows who, you could be perceived as being disloyal, and you very well badmouthing a friend or associate of your interviewer.

6. Being too quiet. - If the interviewer is doing all of the talking you are not showing them you what you have to offer and that is what the interview is all about. When asked a question, do try to give more than one word answers.

7. Not asking any questions. - There are always questions you can ask and if you don't have any you may look unprepared, incurious and not serious about the vacancy.

8. Interrupt. - Do try not to interrupt the interviewer, it might annoy them.

The errors outlined above could well spoil your chances of securing the job you want.  If you can avoid them you will be significantly improving your chances of success.