20 Ways to Annoy Your Job Interviewer

Waving your hands

Any media training, and that includes conducting interviews, tells you not to worry about your hands. Let them fly because that's the only way you're going to be relaxed.

So, if the interviewer is annoyed by waving hands, it's the interviewer's fault.

Guy of CA @ Oct 29, 2009 20:35:41 PM

Number 21

If you're asked to lunch keep it professional, (never, never hit on the waitress!) You're still being interviewed even if the "formal" interview is over. I thought we had a potential hire for my group until he embarrassed us by making inappropriate suggestions to our waitress. He seemed very surprised that he didn't get the job in my group and his afternoon interviews within the company were canceled.

Onceuponatimeboss of TX @ Sep 29, 2009 12:09:28 PM

Interviewer Incompetence

I attended an interview that had a chair that if you sat upright and leant against the back panel it fell back! How disconcerting is that!! At the end of the interview the hiring manager said he would change the chair for the next person! Well great for the next person but hardly fair on me...I thought!

Also I was informed that they had a visitor for the day that was attending the interview as a second interviewer....again how fair was that....none of the other candidates would have this scary person interview them!

My CV is good that is why I get the interviews, I know how to behave at interviews....I am a certified interviewer. I am constantly amazed how poor people are at the interviewing process and if anyone can give some real advice in which company to apply to where the process is fair then pls. let me know!!!

Please don't tell me I don't get the job because I am annoying! Real advice welcome!

Annoyed NYC of NY @ Sep 29, 2009 11:51:21 AM

The list

There are some things on that list I completely agree with, such as the gum chewing. Then, there are other things that I think are way over the top, such as sniffling. Really? I can't sniffle? What if I have a cold, am I supposed to let the snot run down my nose? Oh sure, that'll make me a viable candidate for the role. Also, I'm a bit surprised that tooting didn't make the list.

And smiling too much considering annoying? Are you kidding me? I'd have to wonder about the person doing the interviewing why they're so offended by smiling. Why didn't the smell of cigarette smoke make the list? That's something to be offended by, for sure.

Don't interview me. You will hate me, because i LOVE to smile, and I shouldn't be in the position to worry how the interviewer will perceive my "excessive happiness" over all that I have accomplished during my tenure.

Disengagedjudi.com of LA @ Sep 25, 2009 08:43:58 AM

uh...

hahahahaha, i'm probably the most annoying person in the world :D 90% guilty

loubna of CA @ Jul 31, 2009 02:57:08 AM

passed!

I'm so glad I'm not annoying! I work very hard at being physically (as well as mentally) composed in an interview. I actually work to make the interviewer feel comfortable. Maybe it's my acting training, or the need to be liked, but I love interviewing. Call me crazy.

tina of WA @ Jul 20, 2009 14:31:13 PM

Re: #17

I was thinking, Michael, of those people who "talk with their hands." It can be charming, BUT there are folks who find it an annoying and distracting trait.

Me, I think it's okay, as long as the hands are not too close to my face (in which case it makes me a little dizzy....).

Working Girl of WA @ Jul 16, 2009 13:16:52 PM

20 Ways to Annoy Your Job Interviewer

Having once been a headhunter, I could relate--I've never seen some of the behavours listed here such as #14 & #17, however, I have seen & interviewd some very interesting *candidates* - such as those who come in w/ inch-long blue fingernails, coloured ahir, Goth-style dress (no offense meant to the Goth community), things of this nature...

I had started out myself as an administrative temp, then worked my way *up* to the Other Side of the Desk, as an "Account Executive", eventually head-hunting for COOs, CFOs, CEOs and the like. My favourites were the tech-people though--and THEY were the easiset to sell as they went quick, and no one cared how they dressed... But the stories I could tell, from the Bad Ol' Days--!

Michael Shepherd of FL @ Jul 15, 2009 23:49:28 PM