Interview tips

Came across this WSJ column that discusses all the things you shouldn't do during a job interview. The subject is a hearty perennial, but it's especially relevant these days when jobs are at such a premium (more than 6.1 job seekers for every opening). Some of the advice is pretty obvious - don't arrive late and don't trash a previous employer. Other tips:

--Don't speak to hiring managers as if they're a friend or family member.

--Turn off your cell phone (40 percent of hiring managers say a cell phone ringing in the middle of an interview is a "deal breaker").

--Unpaid internship experience directly related to what the company does usually trumps paid experience in an unrelated field.

--Don't blast HR managers with questions about salary or benefits, especially in the early rounds.

--Don't ask if you can work part-time from home ("Let's figure out if you're the right person for this job before we discuss how little you want to be in the office," says one HR manager).

--Go into the interview with something in your hands - even if it's a resume or not pad.

--Avoid cliches like "This is my dream job."

Couple of other interesting notes: Almost a third of hiring managers say they make a yea-nay decision within 15 minutes. And 75 percent of those surveyed say they don't bother checking social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook - even though it often turns up some not-so-flattering revelations.


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Mark Lacter
Mark Lacter created the LA Biz Observed blog in 2006. He posted until the day before his death on Nov. 13, 2013.
 
Mark Lacter, business writer and editor was 59
The multi-talented Mark Lacter
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