INTERVIEW PITFALLS

Sam Santala shares the red flags that spell rejection at interview.

1 Bad-mouthing your previous employers

Hate your old boss? Can’t wait to get out of your current job? Keep it to yourself. “We all have bad jobs from time to time, but an interview isn’t the place to air those grievances,” Sam says. Keep things positive and focus on what you can offer, rather than when external factors might have held you back.

2 Not knowing what the company makes

“We want to hire someone who’s passionate about what we make,” explains Sam. “We don’t want it to be your life, but at least have an interest in what we’d be hiring you for.” Do your research before you turn up for interview: read up on the company, the work it does and its ethos. If anything, it’s a way to check that you’re going to be happy in the role.

3 Not addressing everyone in the room

When you’re replying to questions, speak to everyone who’s in attendance, says Sam. It might be unintentional, but focusing on the person you deem to be most important in the situation is a big no-no. And if it’s skewed by ethnicity or gender, you can forget about it.

4 Not asking questions

An interview shouldn’t be an entirely one-way street, so make sure you prepare some questions you want to ask your interviewees. “Asking questions shows you’re actively interested in what the company is making, or doing,” says Sam. “It shows you’re invested in the job.”