5 Sure Ways Not to Get Hired

There are many reasons why you may not get hired, but we’ve listed the top 5 reasons interviewers rejected an application. 

Overly sharing your personal experiences

There is a time and place to share things about yourself, and an interview is a place to highlight personal or professional achievements. It is not the place to bring up your recent breakup, drunken party nights, or your belief in astrology. Leave those topics to your friendships outside of the workplace. 

Gossiping or speaking negatively about your last job

No matter your experience with your last employment, bringing up the negative can leave a wrong impression on the interviewer. Practice flipping the narrative as a learning experience or focus on the takeaways. 

Bringing in props or magic tricks

Unless you are interviewing to become a magician or an actor, don’t do this in your interview. You may share a hobby you enjoy as an ice breaker. 

Being pretentious or arrogant

An interviewer told us his pet peeve is when people name drops and expect to be hired because they know someone. It is a sure no for a lot of companies. People want to see you are a team player. If you are going to mention someone, relate it to the interview. For instance, I read an article the director recently wrote, interested in his work. 

Not being mindful

Common mindless mistakes are speaking over the interviewer, using the wrong pronouns, phone ringing during the interview, and not researching the company.  

Helpful Tip: Research the company, its mission statement, and its leaders. Write what you like down about the company and questions you may have for them. 

Wrapping Up

Be mindful of how you want to represent yourself to your future employer. Do your research. Leave the drama at the door. You only get one first impression.