Worst Possible Interview Mistakes According to Recruiters

A first-class degree and a CV full of qualifications is wonderful. They will open doors are create a general perception of your competence and intelligence. They lay the foundations and they set the scene, but they don’t show the full picture. In your job interview, you really must live up to the hype.

You don’t need to convince recruiters that you’re the next Alexander Fleming or Steve Jobs in the making, or that you’re incapable of error. What you do need to do is do your research and ensure you’re thoroughly prepared for your interview, and aware of some of the common mistakes that candidates make in an interview that ruin their chances of landing that dream job.

We conducted a short survey amongst some of the nation’s top healthcare recruiters, asking them a series of simple questions centred around the worst examples of interview mistakes. We’ve highlighted some of the key insights from the survey below, helping you to view your interviews through the eyes of recruiters.

Not Knowing About the Company

It really should go without saying that before you attend an interview, it’s absolutely essential to do your research on the company. As well as knowing a few basic facts such as the year of foundation, key figures, fields of operation, revenue, and products, use your time wisely to acquire as much background knowledge as you possibly can.

No one is expecting you to know the ins and outs of the company on day one, but what recruiters will be looking for is a sense of assurance that they are hiring a candidate who is both interested and engaged in the company’s affairs and capable of preparation and initiative.

Here’s what the surveyed recruiters have experienced:

• “The interviewer asked at the start ‘tell me what you know about [company]. The candidate couldn’t answer, and it completely blew their chances.”
• “A candidate turned up for the interview thinking we were a different company.”
• “A candidate told us why they really wanted to work for company ‘x’ and not us!”
• “Turning up to an interview with no / little understanding of what the company does gives a really bad impression.”

Tips on how to research a company before your interview can be found here.

Not Knowing About the Job

Cardinal sin number two is not having a clue about the role or position that you’re applying for. Seems obvious, right?

Here’s what the surveyed recruiters reported:

• “The candidate had no idea what the job was, and when questioned about it, they didn’t think it was worth checking with the agency.”
• “A candidate applied for a job that required travel, and then told the interview that they didn’t like to travel much.”

What Not to Wear

What you wear and how you present yourself in an interview can tell a recruiter a lot about your sense of professionalism and influence their wider perception of you as a candidate. You don’t always have to turn up to every interview in a three-piece suit, but what you do need to do is research the company culture and double check the dress code beforehand and ensure what you wear is appropriate for each interview.

Here's what our surveyed recruiters have experienced:

• “I had someone go for an interview for a job wearing an open-neck shirt and a rather large cannabis-lead pendant around his neck.”
• “Black suit and white trainers…”
• “Candidates coming to an interview dressed in casual wear, e.g., jeans a t shirt.”
• “It looked as if he was dressed up as Worzel Gummidge / Mr T. This was not a good look. It was a shame because on paper he was perfect for the job. It was also very distracting for me to interview him because I could not keep my eyes off the caterpillar which was crawling in his hair.”

Communication and Body Language

How you handle yourself in an interview environment can tell recruiters a lot about how you react to pressure, as well as your general interpersonal skills and communication skills.

Here’s what the surveyed recruiters experienced:

• “Poor communication skills and body language, and not answering questions fully. Also over talking that is irrelevant to the question being asked.”
• “Bad body language. Sit up straight, make eye contact, and look alert and interested.”
• “Crossed arms, laid back in the chair, twitching of legs, tapping the table or playing with a pen.”

More tips on body language do’s and don’ts can be found here.

Article updated April 2024.