By Priscilla Poirier, Toronto Financial Services & Insurance Recruiter
We all want to make a great impression during a job interview, even if we don’t get the job. This is why we spend so much time prepping for job interviews, reviewing questions we could be asked and trying to look our very best. In a highly competitive industry like finance, it’s important to do everything you can to make yourself stand out from the crowd.
There are also countless unprofessional habits that could instantly ruin your chances. All it takes is one poor display or mistake, and you could be immediately removed from the candidate pool by a company.
Habits That Will Ruin Your Chances of Getting a Job
These unprofessional habits can quickly get you removed from consideration for a position:
Being late: Showing up late for an interview is a huge red flag for hiring companies. It shows you don’t respect their time. Always arrive early for interviews.
Not dressing for the part: As they say, dress for the job you want. Therefore, it’s important to understand the company culture and dress appropriately.
Being too informal: This is especially a concern if you start to feel comfortable with an interview. Don’t lose sight of the fact that you are in an interview. Avoid swearing, using slang, and being too informal with how you talk.
Being negative: No one likes a negative person, especially interviewers. Projecting a negative attitude and talking poorly about previous employers is a sure-fire way to find yourself in the “no” pile.
Being too open: Sharing too much information about yourself can be a detriment to your chances. Keep things relevant and allow the interviewer to follow up if they would like to know more.
Lying: This should be an obvious one, but there is no shortage of people who lie on their resume and during interviews. Getting caught in a lie is one thing that will immediately hurt your credibility. Always be honest and avoid exaggerating your past accomplishments.
Poor body language: It’s important to project confidence, and a big part of this is subtly communicated in your body language. Make eye contact, sit up straight, smile and avoid nervous habits.
Interrupting: This is not only a habit that can be seen as annoying, it is also rude. Wait until others are finished speaking before jumping in.
Here are some more blog posts from our Toronto headhunter to help you interview better:
You’ve Been Fired. What Do You Say In Job Interviews?
Common Job Interview Questions You Need to be Ready to Answer
IQ PARTNERS is an Executive Search & Recruitment firm supporting clients across the country. We help companies hire better, hire less & retain more. We have specialist teams of recruiters in Financial Services & Insurance, Marketing Communications & Media, Emerging Tech & Telecom, Consumer Goods & Retail, B2B & Industrial, Technology, Accounting & Finance, HR & Operations and Mining & Engineering. IQ PARTNERS has its head office in Toronto and operates internationally via Aravati Global Search Network. Click here to view current job openings and to register with us.
