When you walk away from an interview feeling calm, cool, and collected, it's easy to expect nothing less than a callback—and maybe even a job offer. "But just as hiring managers shouldn't expect to receive thank you notes from candidates, we shouldn't take getting a callback for granted," says Vicki Salemi, Monster's career expert.
Why? One reason is that there are interview killers—sneaky saboteurs, if you will—that you probably didn't see during your interview. Here are nine things you might have done—probably without even knowing it—that, according to our experts, might be why you didn't get that call. Happily, they are all fixable for next time.
1. You used filler words. Words such as "like," "so," "actually," and "just"—words we whip out when we're nervous—can crush your chances of a getting a callback, says Jill Jacinto, millennial career expert and associate director of communications for WORKS. "A hiring manager needs to make sure you're confident and able to be articulate—especially if you are looking for a job that needs communication skills," she explains. So long before you walk into an interview, ask a friend or family member to play the role of intimidating potential employer to your job candidate as you record the exchange on your phone. "You might cringe when you play back the video," says Jacinto, "but seeing how often you use this type of language will help you consciously remove it from your vocabulary."
2. You fidgeted. Twirling your hair around your finger or crossing your legs back-and-forth may be second-nature—but these movements are bothersome to potential employers. "Excessive fidgeting demonstrates a lack of confidence and an inability to control your nerves," explains Salemi. "Your potential boss may wonder how you'll perform under pressure, or even on a daily basis. No one wants to deal with nonstop fidgeting, even if it's something as simple as constantly tapping a pen on your desk." So before you sit down with a hiring manager, take steps to become more aware of your nervous habits, including conducting mock interviews and "intentionally inserting yourself into uncomfortable situations, such as a networking event you normally wouldn't attend," suggests Salemi. "By getting more familiar with what makes you uncomfortable, you'll learn to work through your nerves."
3. You spoke too quickly. The more nervous we get, the faster we seem to talk—so fast, it seems, we try to pack all our experience into a single breath. But, says Jacinto, "what you don't realize is that talking a mile a minute makes it extremely hard for a hiring manager to hang onto your every word—which is exactly what you want them to do." Taking the time you need to structure sentences that don't need to be said at sonic speed won't be seen as a weakness, Jacinto says. "Your hiring manger will be thankful to know you are confident enough to stop and think about his or her question and proceed to give a slow, well-structured and easy to follow response," she explains.
4. You don't know enough about the company. You'd kill for this position—but if you know nothing about the people you want to hire you, you won't seem like a viable candidate for the job. "When you don't do your research," says Salemi, "you're making it crystal clear to the interview team you're disinterested in the job—or at least indifferent about it. And you're not going to get a callback if the employer thinks you're not really interested." So take time to learn all you can about the company, then bring notes to your interview to show you mean business, "demonstrating that you're fully prepared," Salemi suggests.
5. You badmouthed a company, former boss, or coworkers. It may seem obvious that a jab directed at your micro-managing boss could cost you a callback, but "some jobseekers get stuck with their heels in their mouths when hiring managers turn the pressure on," Jacinto says. Keep the conversation about your previous employment positive—and only positive—no matter how comfortable a potential employer makes you feel. "Be aware that hiring managers might try to make the conversation relaxed when asking about your previous work environment, creating a safe space,'" Jacinto says. "Avoid the temptation to vent and let it all out. Focus on the good and tie it back to the skills and knowledge you learned that will help you in the role you are interviewing for."
6. You texted. This should be obvious, but apparently it must be said! You may think it's innocent enough to type out a quick reply to a friend's request while the hiring manager isn't looking. Do not do it. If you're spotted, "you've shown that you're easily distracted and tell the prospective employer you value something else more than your conversation with him or her," Salemi says. "During a job interview, nothing else should be more important." Take away the temptation to shoot off a quick text by stowing your phone out of sight during the interview, Salemi suggests, "and don't even look at it in between interviews. Whatever's going on with your friends and on social media can wait an hour or two." Better yet, shut the thing off.
7. You brought up numbers too soon. Warns Jacinto, "If you bring up salary or vacation time within the first few minutes of your job interview, it is safe to assume you will not hear back." Your job, so to speak, in the interview is not to see what this company can do for you—it's to prove what you could do for them. "As a job candidate in a first-round interview, you are there to learn as much about the role as possible and primarily sell yourself," says Jacinto. "This is not the time to bring up salary—in fact I recommend leaving the ball in their court for who takes a first pass."
8. You swore. Your hiring manager may seem hip, but even the coolest boss won't give you a callback if you curse during your interview, warns Salemi. "I've seen this happen," she says, "and it's another sign of unprofessionalism and the inability to keep your cool." If cursing is second-nature, Salemi suggests working to remove certain words from your daily conversations in advance of your interview. "By replacing certain words in your everyday vocabulary, you'll be less likely to use them during an interview," she explains. (Your mom will probably be psyched about this one.)
