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.