Job interviews faux pas

Listen. Keep your mouth shut and let them think you’re stupid rather than opening it and proving them right.

Opening with, "I'm sorry if I'm a bit flustered. I was at CVS picking up my prescription for Adderall and the guy at the counter gave me a dirty look because I cut in front of the line so I wouldn't be late arriving here. I just lost it and starting screaming. But it's OK; I talked to the manager. She knows me well. Actually, they all know me well there."

Don't give long detailed answers, get to the point but be as brief as possible, no one likes someone who drones on and on, something people can do when they are nervous and almost everyone is nervous during a job interview, even the interviewer. If they want to know more they will ask you to expand on that.

Wear flats and not heels.

Tell them that you hope everyone is nice because your last boss was a fucking bitch. Throw in the fact that your therapist says it’s very important for you to be in a calm and agreeable environment because you have a lot of hate inside.

Don't talk about death.

Just trust me.

Answer only what they ask. Don’t over share. Don’t say anything negative whatsoever about your last job or your last boss. Sit still and don’t fidget. Most importantly, just be yourself.

Good luck, OP!

Call the male interviewers “gurl.”

If they ask you what your weakness is, don't say something really bad. And after whatever you say, tell them that you are aware of it and working on it. I don't know if they still ask that stupid question. My answer was always that I was a perfectionist, and I always got the job. But I hated that stupid fucking question. Cause like I'm gonna narc on myself?

[R9] is right, tell them your weakness is that you're a perfectionist. It's a stupid question. I wonder why they even ask it. And let's not get started with, "Where do you see yourself in five years?" Has anybody ever just told the interviewer(s) to shut the fuck up?

Another thing. Shave your facial hair. A beard or moustache won't get you the job unless you're interviewing for a Joe Gage Sex Files movie.

Be careful with the weakness answer, though. If you’re not a perfectionist at all, don’t say that you are. This is one of the questions hiring panels often ask references, too; so if your answer and your references’ answers don’t align, they’ll think you lack self-awareness (or are a liar).

Just be honest without over sharing.

R9 and R10, as someone who interviews many people, I hate variations on the “I’m a perfectionist” answer. I’m just looking for honesty about training needs.

I would be leary of hiring someone who claimed to be a perfectionist, to me that means they are clueless to their own failings which we all have but highly critical of others.

[quote] I would be leary of hiring someone who claimed to be a perfectionist, to me that means they are clueless to their own failings which we all have but highly critical of others.

And/ or an exhausting Type A who works themself to the edge of burnout and is never happy with anything. I agree, r14.

Op, if they ask that, just think of an area you legit want to keep growing in. Tell them what you have done to grow already in this area, and why it would be beneficial for the company for you to continue development. You don’t have to answer with your deepest, darkest character flaw. Just be honest and keep it relevant.

While it's OK to explain why your previous experience makes you the perfect candidate, don't imply you have insider info from a previous employer. I actually had an applicant for a sales manager job tell me she was best suited for the job because she had downloaded all her previous employer's confidential customer contracts and she would use that info to be successful in this new job. Next!

Be honest OP without over sharing.

Just showcase your skills as much as possible.

Is this just to continue your unemployment payouts for another six months?

I agree that answering the flaw question with "I'm a perfectionist" is a mistake. They'll think you're either giving a rote reply or that you're a picky pain in the ass. The advice about turning it into a discussion of where you'd like to grow professionally is a good answer.

Don't cross your legs. When I was learning techniques for interviewing suspects there is something called the cone of truth which is how your body language is interpreted. Open, relaxed posture indicates honesty and closed posture such as crossing of the legs or arms is a big indication of dishonesty and lack of trustworthiness. Even if people aren't looking for this cone of truth, they do pick up on these subtle clues subconsciously.

Don't say anything that sounds fruity like "faux pas"

r21 did you grow up in the hills of Appalachia?

I'm a perfectionist is the most bullshit answer you can give. As an interviewer, I’ve inadvertently rolled my eyes at that.

Typically, they will ask you if you have any question about the company or position. Have multiple questions ready (apart from money/benefits). It shows you have done the bare minimum research about the company/structure. They don’t have to be good/insightful, but have something.

Be prepared with real world examples of how you dealt with work place issues (even if you make them up).

Seem interested in the company/growth (even if you don’t).

Ask questions in general. Even in retail, employers like to see how engaged you will be in the future. How does Dillard’s (as an example) help employees maintain sales goals? What ere challenges you faced when you were brought on?

You don’t have to be accusatory, but in my experience, being informed about the job (whether it is McDonalds or Goldman Sachs) does a lot.

You need to go in there and STATE YOUR BOUNDARIES

Remember to tell the interviewer your preferred pronouns!

take notes so you stay focused

[R13], why put an interviewee in the uncomfortable position of telling you what their greatest weakness is when you're in a setting for them to highlight their strengths?

Most jobs best to remove your nipple piercings. People will judge.

If you have a big junk, dress so it shows a bit. Subtle VPL. Nothing vulgar, but show your assets.

Start with a dirty joke but be careful-- you want to choose one they haven't heard before.

R27, an interview isn’t just about highlighting strengths. It’s for both parties to see if they would be comfortable with the applicant beginning a new job. That involves finding out how the applicant deals with inevitable setbacks and how their work style fits in with the existing team’s.

Start with a Yo Mamma joke to lighten the mood.

Try to look as thin and attractive as possible, like someone the interviewer would want to fuck.

Be prepared to demonstrate architect skill with mouth.

Present hole.

[quote] why put an interviewee in the uncomfortable position of telling you what their greatest weakness is when you're in a setting for them to highlight their strengths?

As an interviewer, I ask this question for several reasons. A.) to see how open the candidate will be, b.) to get a gauge of self-awareness, and c.) honesty because I’ll check their answer against what their references say about them. It’s a pretty basic question that’s asked pretty frequently from what I gather.

Perhaps off topic, but if during the interview you can gauge you are smarter, more intelligent than the person whose interviewing you? You're in trouble and it won't work! RED FLAG BIG TIME!...

Don't present hole until AFTER the interview.

Wear spanx and don’t eat or drink anything for at least 24 hours so you lose water weight. Studies have shown thinner candidates have the advantage over the fatties.

So what IS a good answer for the greater weakness question for all the hiring managers in this thread?

Cover as many tats as you can. If you have face tattoos then just go on welfare.

[quote] honesty because I’ll check their answer against what their references say about them.

You can’t do that. References are more for confirming dates of employment and if you would hire them again. It’s illegal to ask anything other than yes and no questions.

It's not illegal to ask. The onus is on the person answering the questions whether or not they want to be honest and divulge more information, however that is discouraged by most HR people because it can open you up to liability if your comments cause the person not to get the job.

In practice, though, they'll tell you the truth, but have it be veiled enough they could deny it later.

If they invite you to lunch, don't salt or pepper food before tasting. It means you make decisions without the proper knowledge.

r40, Dark Chocolate! or caffeine, Ha ha. I always thought this question was designed to test your judgement to see if you answer inappropriately.

The other thing to do is make some aspect of the job line up with your weakness.. For example if the job is independent and you'll be alone often, you can say "sometimes, I get lost in projects and co-workers think I'm ignoring them or the opposite, I work best with a team, if I'm alone I get bored or something like that. Turn a negative in to a positive. They know what you're doing but you're using good judgment.

Act like someone they would want to work.

[quote] You can’t do that. References are more for confirming dates of employment and if you would hire them again. It’s illegal to ask anything other than yes and no questions.

You don’t know what you’re talking about. It’s definitely not illegal. We do it all the time. Many companies have prospective employees sign a waiver about contacting references.

Cause corporate America is a gigantic game of stupid r27.

Probably don't say that, OP.

Ask when is the annual company-wide Purge.

Don't be late for the interview.

Err on the side of being over-dressed vs. being under-dressed.

Google the prospective employer and know the basics about the company.

I would not say "I'm a perfectionist." I've worked with a lot of people who think they're perfectionists. What it really means (IMO) is that you can't make a decision and you can't complete simple projects.

[quote] So what IS a good answer for the greater weakness question for all the hiring managers in this thread?

I would say: "I don't have any weakness that would prevent me from performing my job."

For my weakness I usually say “I can be over talkative, but that is just because I believe so much in high office morale and strong teams.” If they ask how I am fixing it I say something about closing my work door, wearing ear plugs, ect. Always works!

[quote] I would say: "I don't have any weakness that would prevent me from performing my job."

Really r49? As a hiring manager, I wouldn’t like that. I’d probably follow up with “What are the top three areas in which you would benefit from continued learning and growth?” Actually, I’d probably ask the question that way to begin with. “What are your weaknesses” is not very tactful.

[quote] Really [R49]? As a hiring manager, I wouldn’t like that. I’d probably follow up with “What are the top three areas in which you would benefit from continued learning and growth?”

R51, at this point in my life, yes, that's probably what I'd say.

[quote] “What are the top three areas in which you would benefit from continued learning and growth?”

That's a different question from "What is your greatest weakness," and yes, I'd have at least one answer to that question (in what area could I benefit from additional training).

Wrap one of their “ tell me about a time”‘questions in the blanket of diversity and how diversity makes a company stronger. Then move back from the table to keep from being hit by their instant erections. But don’t tell them you’re gay, unless you’re a lesbian. Straight men love working with gay women (I don’t begrudge gay women that privilege).

[quote] Really [R49]? As a hiring manager, I wouldn’t like that.

So you would prefer that I lie? If I don’t have any weaknesses, why should I lie and say I have some?

[quote] So you would prefer that I lie? If I don’t have any weaknesses, why should I lie and say I have some?

Everyone has areas in which they are relatively weaker than in other areas. If you said “I don’t have any,” I’d probably think you were arrogant, lack self-awareness, and/or dishonest.

What if they asked “What would your coworkers say is your greatest weakness?” I’ve seen it asked that way as well.

If someone asked me “What are your weaknesses,” I’d definitely rephrase the question in my answer like “The area in which I’d like to continue growing is… because it will benefit the company by… and to continue growing in this area, I’ve already begun to…”

God the hiring manager in this thread is exactly why the American workforce is such a joke world-wide. All these stupid trick questions and game playing, no wonder so many companies are infested with shitty employees when manipulation is what gets you the job. Hiring Manager, I hope your next hire embezzles from you.

i would not want to hire someone so arrogant that he thinks he has no weaknesses.

[quote] All these stupid trick questions and game playing, no wonder so many companies are infested with shitty employees when manipulation is what gets you the job.

Which questions do you feel are tricks and what games do you see being played? (Honestly interested in your opinion in this.)

[quote] Everyone has areas in which they are relatively weaker than in other areas.

I don’t.

Your greatest weaknesses could be a huge pair of tits if you're a woman, or a giant penis if you're a man. "It's so much trouble to deal with! I just can't do a thing with them!"

r59 you could say your biggest weakness is being humble!

Oh I don't know R58, how about the what are your weaknesses, which of course a candidate cannot answer honestly because it might cost them the job so it has to be spun into a positive. Instead of not asking the stupid question in the first place since an interview is where a candidate is selling their strengths.

American Corporate Culture has seeped into all businesses and it's one of many reasons why the US is so hated.

So other countries don’t ask this question? It’s only the US?

When I have an interviewer ask me generic questions like "What's your greatest weakness" I just think they are a newbie and Googled "interview questions" before the interview. I haven't heard that question except during one of those stupid roundtable interviews where it's the group of future coworkers asking questions.

And the "perfectionist" stock answer has been around for at least half a century if not more, so I definitely wouldn't use it. I like what was suggested in the thread of reframing the question to be where you could use additional training and improvement, something specific to the job: "Well, my skill in x is an intermediate level, I'd like to train more and get it all the way to advanced".

Of course they want you to lie r54? What the hell do you think the whole interview process is other than to figure out who can tell the most clever lies. In other words, who will fit in best around here?

Not trying to start a fight with the hiring manager on this thread, but here are my thoughts on this "what is your greatest weakness" question.

That type of question is asked when the employer has either a real or a perceived advantage over the prospective employee.

You'd not ask that question to someone you felt was very valuable and that you wanted to hire on the spot.

From a prospective employee point of view, the resume, interview, salary negotiations, etc., are a game of cards (poker). You're negotiating. Exposing your greatest weakness is not something you want to do during negotiations.

Same with: "How much did your last employer pay you?" Again, this is a negotiation, a poker game. I can understand why prospective employees do not want to answer that question.

[quote] Oh I don't know [R58], how about the what are your weaknesses, which of course a candidate cannot answer honestly because it might cost them the job so it has to be spun into a positive. Instead of not asking the stupid question in the first place since an interview is where a candidate is selling their strengths. American Corporate Culture has seeped into all businesses and it's one of many reasons why the US is so hated.

Thanks for sharing your perspective. The purpose of an interview (from an HR perspective) is not to hear a candidate sell their strengths. It is to see if the candidate is a good fit for the role and for the company. Asking about areas of growth isn’t a trick, and I want a candidate to answer honestly! Their honest answer is almost never a deal breaker, especially if the rest of the interview is great.

FWIW, when I interviewed for my job in the UK and also one in Switzerland, I was asked a similar type question, so it’s not unique to America.

R63 they do in the countries where American corporations have set up shop. For example, I've read many complaints from Irish cirizens about how this kind of corporate speak has seeped into the workforce there and they hate it. Not everyone appreciates the American phoniness.

R66, I’m so glad I’m in California where they can’t ask about salary history.

[quote] That type of question is asked when the employer has either a real or a perceived advantage over the prospective employee. You'd not ask that question to someone you felt was very valuable and that you wanted to hire on the spot.

It’s interesting hearing all the perspectives about this. This type of question is always in my first round interviews, which are just to gauge possible fit and weed out crazies. I don’t ask “What are your weaknesses,” but I do ask about areas in which they still want to grow. Maybe it’s different in other industries. In my line of work, I can’t imagine wanting to hire someone on the spot in the first round of interviews, and I’m definitely not even thinking about negotiations at that point either.

R70, if you weed out the crazies you’d never hire any Dataloungers.

Don't scream "Yaaasssssss!" when you meet the interviewer--or at any point, actually.

I should add to my post at r64 that when I was a newbie manager and hadn't interviewed anyone before, I looked up interview questions too, and mainly asked them the generic questions like "What is your greatest weakness".

Now when I need to interview, I use the prospect's resume and the job description and ask them questions about their past work history and the various challenges they'll encounter during their work. In other words it's a far more organic and tailored experience.

[quote] It’s interesting hearing all the perspectives about this. This type of question is always in my first round interviews, which are just to gauge possible fit and weed out crazies.

I'm glad you can hopefully learn from this thread, what the interviewee's point of view is. Not all of us job applicants are crazy. Lots of people just want to pay their bills, get their work done, and enjoy their lives -- outside of work.

Oh, never say "Work-life balance" if you're interviewing. Employers always want someone "passionate about x" and they don't want someone going home right at quitting time, either. They don't want to hear how you hope to integrate the work experience into your rich, full life, somehow.

In other words, they want a happy slave.

As said, they want you to lie about pretty much everything, starting with your passion for whatever bullshit you'll be doing all day til blessed release.

r76 you just have to fake like you're married to your work and are passionate about whatever it is you're doing until you get the job. Then you can work normally once the probation period is past, if any.

But yeah, you don't want to say "I do this because I need the money, and in five years I hope to have won the lottery and be nose deep in the cleavage of swimsuit models".

One time, I had an interview that went on for two hours in Washington DC. I wasn't expecting a two-hour interview, but I went along with it, taking a writing/editing test and talking to multiple people. During one conversation, the interviewer lifted his head and looked past me through a glass window, and suddenly stopped speaking. After a few seconds, he said, "I'm sorry; there's a strange man in the hallway staring at me." I turned to look behind me, and there was my dad. He had gotten tired of waiting for me in the car. Like an idiot, I said, "Oh, that's my dad." No, I didn't get the job.

What’s wrong with bringing your mom or dad to an interview? My mom always insists on going to all my interviews. It’s actually nice because she can introduce me and I don’t have to speak as much and she can interject if I veer off track.

We always ask the "what are your strengths and weaknesses" question. One time a lady said that her weakness was that she didn't like old people. That's the strangest answer we've ever gotten. We also ask why you want this position, what are three words that describe you and then what questions do you have for us? For some reason, the ladies on the hiring committee always like when someone has prepared questions for us.

Always ask the interviewers; "What are you gonna do? Charge me with smoking?" and then recross your legs OP.

Try to talk about your fondness for white silk scarves somewhere in the conversation.

Guaranteed success every single time!

When they ask what are your weaknesses are, respond with "YOU FIRST!" and giggle winningly.

Then, recross your legs.

Never count on anyone but yourself. I had a job interview with (a big org you all know) many years ago. They flew me to LA, put me up in a nice hotel, and I arranged a cab for the morning with the concierge. THEY DIDN'T CALL THE CAB. "Jim, you're 15 minutes late for your interview."

[quote]R55 What if they asked “What would your coworkers say is your greatest weakness?”

I see where this is going.

Just be honest and say you have bladder control issues. BUT you bring your own chair.

Do your research before the interview. Be prepared to answer the question "What do you know about our company?"

Wear socks. Unless the job is "style coordinator" at Nordstrom's. Assume the employer's culture is more conservative that outwards appearances might otherwise lead you to believe.

[R85], that right there... ooh! You could tell them the truth, then it appears you're 'blaming others.' You could tell them the cab was late, ditto. What did you tell them?

I had an interview in Switzerland and the first element of it was before I even sat down. That was finding the offices on my own initiative. Apparently, the company didn't like candidates ringing in to ask the location of the offices. They expected, rightly in my opinion, that candidates researched where they were located and then the company. I got extra brownie points for arriving 5 minutes early, given that I'd taken a flight and a train to their headquarters.

“So, are there any hot guys in the office?”

Researching the company is a must. Just one or two key points. I worked for the UK Pension regulator years ago and when we asked what the candidate knew about the organisation, we were listening for just one word - Maxwell. Nope, not Ghislaine, but her dad Robert, who helped himself to his employee's pension fund.

Why would they mention Maxwell or any embarrassing scandal in an interview? Even if they knew about it they would pretend not to know and talk about the positive aspects of the company. It’s like interviewing at Miramar and mentioning Harvey Weinstein’s rapes. You just wouldn’t do that.

This is how you interview. Tell them you have a brain injury.

Anyone who asks the "greatest weakness" question should expect either the "perfectionist", "workaholic" or "I've never been a manager before" answers.

As an interviewee, it's generally a sign that the interviewer is a clown and a red flag about the company in general.

(There are some jobs where lots of technical skills are needed and "weakness" may be in reference to one of those, but otherwise it's a lazy pointless question.)

1. At the beginning, announce that the interview works both ways.

2. Answer the weakness question with, "I don't suffer fools or stupid questions."

R93 It was for a job with the pension regulator.

ie. The people who actually investigate pension fraud.

r59, Here's 3 and I don't even know you. " I have trouble accepting opinions that I don't agree with" or "sometimes my written communication can be interpreted as harsh", or "I have a need to always have the last word".

It always surprises me that they encourage questions. Many times the first interview is with HR. HR won’t tell you anything useful about the working dynamics of the department. So most people end up parroting what they can find on the company website. Have you read some of the crap companies put on their website?

Then if you make it to the departmental interview, you can ask more specific questions but getting answers depends on how well the interviewer can articulate the answer. There are many interviewers who aren’t comfortable answering questions.

Announcing at the end of the interview "Oh by the way, I am under conservatorship, but don't worry, it's going much better than Britney".

R88 I agree. Interviewers often forget that an interview is a two way process. Particularly, in specialised jobs. It's as much about the interviewee determining if this is a organisation that they want to work for as it is for an interviewer assessing the candidate's skill and personality set.

[quote]nterviewers often forget that an interview is a two way process.

Companies will give this fact lip service but never internalize that fact. The interview is rarely structured to benefit the person being interviewed. It is always structured to benefit the organization, and even doing that ends up not being as beneficial to an organization.

I always ask what ringtone the person has on their phone. I want to know what I'm going to be listening to every time someone gets up to go to the bathroom and leaves their phone on their desk.

-Don't be late -Don't expect beverages/parking validation - if they offer great. If they don't, don't ask -Turn off your cell phone and notifications. -Don't look unkempt. -Bring some sort of professional bag/leather case/laptop bag so it looks like you can take notes, and do if there is technical info or if there are handouts -Ask pertinent details about the job and team if not communicated -Appear interested -Don't wear fragrance -Don't wear anything extreme or loud. Interviewers like jackets and they like blue or black. -For God's sake don't chew gum or show up with food.

R101 That is so true.

r102, Honestly that's as good a reason as any. I want to know what they eat for lunch, what am I going to be smelling every day.

Also, the most important thing is their name. I worked with 2 people with complicated names that I was always repeating and spelling and hearing comments about. It was Annoying and a total time waster. Sorry, 'She'Cherri. I hired Dave, who like to skip lunch and go to the gym instead. "Dave's not here can I take a message"= 2 seconds.

Everyday, all day-"'She' Cherri, yes. Yes. Apostrophe S,h, e, apostrophe capital C,h, e, , r, r i. , yes, yes, I know, I don't know, her mother liked it I guess, ha ha, I know, right.-2 minutes.

The weirdest interviews I've had were ones where someone fairly high up (C-suite or adjacent) wanted to bring me in for a job, but for legal reasons, I needed to go through HR first.

We both knew that it was a pantomime and so my task was to try and make it less awkward for the HR person and ask them about corporate culture, about the benefits package--things I knew that they'd want to talk about as that was the main part of their job--and a little about how I knew the COO and what I was up to now.

The goal was that when the HR person saw the COO and he asked what she thought, she'd say something more effusive than "he seemed nice" or "he seemed like a good fit"

For entry level jobs, one more tip: always have a printed out copy of your resume with you. While the interviewer should technically have been emailed a PDF of your resume before the interview, reality is that there's a good chance the person you are meeting with can't find the email (especially if they're talking to half a dozen candidates that week) and you will look especially buttoned up.

And if you're doing a Zoom interview, invest in a ring light and set yourself up with a professional looking background, even if it's just a blank wall and you need to move some of your furniture around. You don't need to wear a coat and tie for those but wear a dress shirt, not a t-shirt

[quote] For God's sake don't chew gum or show up with food.

Food? It's not like you're going to the movies.

R107 - we had someone show up to an interview bringing us a box of donuts.

Depending on the work environment, that's not the worst idea I've ever heard.

[quote] For God's sake don't chew gum or show up with food

But what if it’s lunchtime? A lot of interviews are scheduled at noon.

Well then, bring your Big Mac and fries to the interview, R110! The committee wouldn't want you to suffer from low blood sugar.

That's what Cliff bars are for R110

Don't fart in the interview room!

Thank you for the tips and advice guys. The interview went OK (at least I think it did, the interviewers had masks on so I couldn't read their faces).

I did however, use the word "erect" and "erection" (describing wind turbines) at least 3 times. So there's that.

Also please eat something before you go to a job interview, I was on edge just praying that my stomach doesn't growl.

Why are you interviewing in person? I would never work for a company that makes you do that.

[quote] Thank you for the tips and advice guys. The interview went OK

Did they ask you about your weakness, OP?

Good for you. Glad it went well, and hope it works out for you!

R115: Mary!

Probably explains why you’ve been unemployed for so long and forced to live in mom’s basement, r115.

Would you work for a company that put your life in danger?

R116 Thank you! No, they skipped that question. They did ask me a lot of technical questions though which gave me an opportunity to really babble and ramble, which I love. I probably should've shut my mouth at one point but I love to talk lol.

R115 I'm not from the US. We just came out from another lockdown at my place and cases are subsiding.

[quote] They did ask me a lot of technical questions though which gave me an opportunity to really babble and ramble, which I love. I probably should've shut my mouth at one point but I love to talk lol.

I hope you didn't babble and ramble too much. You may "love to talk," but not everybody loves to listen to someone babbling and rambling.

R121 yes that's why I said I should've shut up earlier lol. There was some good parts too so hopefully those outweigh the bad ones. Who knows, we'll see.

Bravo. This thread had several laugh out loud moments for me. I needed that.

When do you find out, OP?

OP, how did it go? Hope you got it!

R124 no clue. They still have to interview other applicants as well but hopefully I'll know soon.

R125 it went well (I think). I still don't know if I got it or not although I'm hopeful (and desperate lol).

I hope you showed a little nipple.

I hope you got the job, OP. We've all been there (on the job market). At least most of us.

I always am mindful not to wear trousers too tight to show off my rather generous bulge, as well as avoiding low-cut blouses revealing my ample cleavage. My job interviewers have always seemed to find me very interesting to talk with!

I hope you didn't append 'lol' to each of your sentences during the interview, OP!