They meet more people in an afternoon than most of us do in a year. But what faux pas do human resources pros see again and again during the interview process?
We picked the brains of two high-profile executives to find out what you definitely shouldn't say—and what they secretly think of your résumé. (One was so brutally honest about her just-don't-do-this advice that she preferred to remain anonymous.)
Not Knowing When to Stop Talking
"Talking over your interviewer is the biggest mistake that interview candidates don't realize they're making," says Stacey Hawley, a career and leadership development coach and compensation specialist. "This is usually from nervousness, but as a result, the candidates outtalk the interviewer and don't engage in active listening."
Amy Michaels,* a human resources director at a high-tech firm in New York City, agrees: "The inability to listen is huge. That person who’s always trying to have the exact right answer, but can't stop talking? They ultimately won't be a success."
Instead, listen up and watch more subtle clues—like your interviewer's body language. If she's shifting back and forth or clearing her throat, it's time to let her get to the next question.
Bad-mouthing Your Ex ... Job
While it may seem like a no-brainer, putting down your current employer happens all too often, says Michaels, perhaps because the bad feelings are still fresh. If you're tempted to trash your present company, stop right there.
"When I ask why you're leaving a place, I don't want to hear you gripe about your current manager or badmouth your situation," she says. "Be creative enough to come up with a tactful reason as to why you're leaving. Otherwise, to me, that's a huge red flag that you're not mature enough to know not to do it. Not to mention that it makes me nervous about how tactful you're going to be externally if I hire you."
Not Acknowledging Your Mistakes
A couple of interview rules of thumb: "Be well-groomed, and be on time," says Michaels. "Or email if your train is running late. That happens in New York."
While one minor transgression may not deep-six your prospects of landing the job, you should still acknowledge it and move on, says Michaels. Hawley will also pardon small errors: "Mistakes are OK and acceptable. No one is perfect — or needs to be."
The bigger red flag, both say, is someone who can't admit their missteps. "The people who make me nuts just act like being late never happened," says Michaels. "If you make a mistake, own up to it."
Neglecting Your Cover Letter
Our experts were adamant about this. "To be honest, I don't read objectives, and I don't care if you fence," says Michaels. "But I do read cover letters." Hawley agrees: "Absolutely write a cover letter. It's an opportunity to highlight your understanding of the business, and what you can do for the bottom line."
And, even in the digital age, there's no excuse for a quickly dashed-off email—take the time to compose it with care. "Demonstrate your knowledge of the company," says Hawley. "And link your past achievements to the position, showing how you can contribute to their future success." That, she says, will always make a candidate stand out.
Trying Too Hard
While confidence is a must, check your supersize ego at the door. "I have a good radar," says Michaels, "and I have a policy where I will not bring in ego. I've made that mistake, and it really affects the culture of an organization."
What good HR professionals have that most humans don't, notes Michaels, is a high EQ. "You notice body language," she says. "You can sense whether someone has empathy or is overly self-involved."
Michaels advice? Try to relax and be your (best) self. "I like people who are authentic, and you know it’s who they are," she says. "I'm just attracted to that."
Of course, HR execs can also pick up on whether you're posturing. "When you start elaborating on things you don’t actually know or things you think I want to hear, I’m not impressed," she says.
Curbing Your Enthusiasm
If you're going to the trouble of sprucing up your résumé and dry-cleaning your suit, at least try to appear appropriately enthused. An interview is an opportunity to learn about the company, and vice versa, but you can take yourself out of the running prematurely if you don't act like you want the position. And that includes doing your homework on both the company and your individual interviewers.
"I would never hire someone who didn't do the proper research," says Hawley. But if it came down to a choice between two candidates, "all else being equal, the person who showed the most excitement and interest would get my vote," she says.
Forgetting Your Manners
When it comes to an interview, you want to dot your I's, cross your T's and, yes, put your résumé on nice, thick paper stock—but certain old-fashioned politesse can also get you ahead.
"A handshake is actually important to me," says Michaels. "It's a totally stupid thing, but I do pay attention." So what is she looking for? "You want a firm, confident handshake," she says. "It tells you whether that person is an introvert or an extrovert. If it's a sales job, you have to have a healthy handshake."
As for Hawley, her biggest interview-etiquette pet peeve is equally simple: not following up. So be sure to send a thank-you note or a thank-you email, if you're trying to be expedient. But don't just send a form letter to every person who you interviewed with—thank them instead by mentioning a personal connection or a particular detail that you discussed.
Torpedoing the Salary Negotiation
Finally, if you're lucky enough to get an offer, you're on to (arguably) the hardest part of the interview process.
There are two common salary-negotiation mistakes our recruiters see: The first is mentioning money too early. "I think it’s really presumptuous for a candidate to bring up money," says Michaels. "You have to earn the right to bring that up."
The second is forgetting to negotiate at all. "People—especially women—negotiate against themselves," says Hawley. "They assume how the company will respond, and answer for the company."
Our nerves often cause us to blurt out a number, locking us into a salary when there was more money to be had. Instead, she says, you should ask open-ended questions, such as "What range do you have in mind?" Then wait and listen.
* Name has been changed to protect her identity.