Top 10 Ways to Blow Getting the Job

Today I launch into a new series – Top 10 Ways to Blow Getting the Job. Now it’s been a little while since I’ve done a series and I hope that many of my readers will find this one particularly useful. The topic I am going to cover should be near and dear to anyone who has considered changing jobs, and while I almost always write with a slant that gives my posts a restaurant flavor, there are lessons for everyone asTim Totten [Hey this is the 100th post, but don’t read it.] and Greg [Customer service is a universal imperative] can attest.

One of the rules about writing blog posts, in fact any article for that matter, is to not be negative. However I chose the title because I think it is easier to tell people how to not blow getting the job by avoiding some easily avoidable mistakes than it is to tell them how to get the job, since there may be thousands of things that contribute to the success of the total job seeking effort. My (hoped for) words of wisdom are pointed most directly at the unit level restaurant managers. Those individuals who are on the front lines and directly responsible for providing leadership at the individual restaurant locations. There are many opportunities for them to move to different companies to obtain higher pay and expose themselves to better chances for promotion. By avoiding the ‘mistakes’ that I have identify, their job change campaign should be much more successful.

Let’s start out with the list of what I consider the biggest mistakes (below.) I’ll tell you that the order that I have them listed is intentional. I’ve listed what I think are the easiest to correct first and the most difficult to correct last. Each week we will discuss why I think each topic is such a big problem and how to overcome it. Hopefully we will be able to help guide a number of jobseekers to more successful outcome as a result of the series. Additionally, I’ll probably go ahead and create a PDF document (as Pat Lefler and Kent Blumberg like) so that those who wish, can have an offline resource to carry around, study, or distribute.

I’d also appreciate and enjoy my readers participating with some of their own ideas for errors or mistakes to avoid, which I would be happy to include, expound upon, or discuss. Feel free to email or comment here or on any of the posts. If we get more items than ten, I’ll just change the title. 😉 Now here is my list:

Top 10 Ways to Blow Getting the Job

Inappropriate dress – showing up for the interview in attire that is not proper for your industry and position.

Not showing desire – not showing the interviewer(s) at every point that you are ready, willing, and able to make a job change and that you want to work for them.

Not exhibiting a "can do" attitude – when asked to provide additional info, take additional tests, go to a different location, or do anything out of the ordinary; hesitating and making it out to be a hardship on you.

Talking badly about your former/current employer – mentioning information with a negative attitude or tone in your voice or really talking derogatorily about your employers.

Discussing your personal life – talking about things in your personal life to such a degree that it could cause negative feelings or outcome with the prospective employer.

Asking for too much money – when negotiating, going beyond the reasonable limits that have been pre-discussed with your recruiter, the hiring authority, or stated in the job ad.

Inflexibility with regard to location – unwillingness to consider relocation or working in a particular location that may require a longer commute than you would enjoy, for some period of time.

History of job hopping – moving from one company to another (more often than not, at the same level) so frequently that you look unstable.

Lack of knowledge – not knowing about your business and profession, and not knowing about the company where you are interviewing.

Poor language skills – inability to communicate effectively, inability to articulate ideas using proper English, using curse words or slang during the interview.