Never Do This in an Interview

It's easy to find good advice and coaching to help you know what to do in a job interview and how to prepare for it. Not as readily available, however, are the important warnings to keep you from making business or etiquette faux pas that could inadvertently ruin your chances of getting the job you want. Here are some things you should never do in an interview.

Don't Lie

It can be very tempting to embellish your skills and experience when you're in a job interview. Don't do it. If the hiring manager is interested in you, she is going to confirm what you've claimed in the interview and on your resume. Don't say anything that a former employer might contradict or that can be disproved by a simple online search. Tell the truth about your employment, your job responsibilities and the reasons you left your previous position. You may not be proud of some of the answers you have to give to interview questions, but a little dose of humility is far better than being caught out in a lie.

Don't Be Rude

Etiquette is as crucial at a job interview as it is at a formal dinner party. Before you step into a job interview, turn off your mobile phone and ignore it even if you feel it vibrating in order to focus all your attention on the interviewer. If your interviewer offers snacks, or if you're having an interview over lunch, don't speak with your mouth full and take tiny bites so you're always prepared to answer a question. Speak with good diction, avoiding fillers such as "like" and "um," and never swear in an interview. Sit up straight during your interview, and remember the basics such as shaking hands and saying "thank you" at the end of the interview.

Don't Be Greedy

A job interview isn't the time to focus on what the company can do to make you happy. Don't make demands at a job interview. If you're offered the job, you can discuss issues such as salary, stock options, office placement and benefits with the HR department. During the job interview, focus on what you can do for the company, and leave your own hopes and desires out of the discussion entirely.

What you don't do during a job interview is as crucial to your ultimate success as what you do. Answering every question perfectly can be completely undermined if you bring up demands, don't tell the truth or fail to show common courtesy. Treat each job interview with the respect it deserves and with an attitude focused on the good of the company, and you are far more likely to experience a happy outcome.

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