Dear esteemed partners in progress,

The best strategy is to be honest about your failures. Typically, with this question interviewers seek to understand if you can accept criticism. It is normal to have experienced failures during your career, but if you have learned your lesson and you have accepted your responsibility, you will demonstrate to your interviewer an open personality and a person who is ready to accept criticism to improve oneself.

*Do you balance your professional and personal life on a daily basis and how?

The ability to balance professional and personal life demonstrates a balanced individual, capable of working hard and taking care of family and personal issues. This is a pretty tricky question that requires a lot of consideration before giving an answer. It's better to take you time and think so that you come up with real examples where you had to cope with between work and personal life and what you did to balance them out.

*How did you prepare for this interview?
Most interviewers anticipate that you have done your research on the company, you have visited their website and you are familiar with what the company does, where they operate and what their size is. Besides, depending on the nature of the position, you are expected to have visited particular areas of the website and have collected specific information. For instance, if you are interested in a sales position you should have researched the major products and services the company offers. This is one of the most important questions during a job interview. If you know what the company does, you show that you are interested in the position and enthusiastic to participate in the interview process.

*Why do you think you fit the best for the job?



When asked this question, you are expected to demonstrate all your skills and competencies that make you the perfect fit for the particular job position. To achieve that, you need to understand the major objectives for the position and match your achievements to the job objectives. Besides, the interviewer expects to see your management skills, strategic skills, technical skills and so on, depending on the position.


*Can you tell me about yourself?

Many employers start the interview with this question, most likely seeking to discover your communication skills, your presentation skills and how self-confident you are. The secret in this question is not to get trapped into a lengthy monologue. Try to describe yourself with a summary of your skills and competencies, concentrating on your achievements and accomplishments.

Dear esteemed partners in progress,

Getting hired can be one of the hardest things many of us ever have to do. It can seem like a beauty pageant, a foot race, and a final exam all in one and the prize is a job you will hopefully keep for the next twenty years or more. Beating out the competition for that position is what the job interview is all about and you can win with a few tips that will set you apart from the average interviewee.

1) Rehearse an interview with a friend or relative so you will be relaxed and feeling confident when you actually do an interview with an HR person.

2) Research the business so you know exactly what they do and what they may expect of you as an employee. Let the interviewer know you care about their organization and you want to be a part of it by having some knowledge regarding what their function is and what will be expected of you, their new employee.

3) Dress appropriately. Even if the job you're applying for is blue collar you should wear "office attire" to make a good impression at an interview. Wear something simple and clean.

4) Be there early for that interview by at least ten or fifteen minutes. If you are late for the job interview they will think this shows you have no respect for them or the position you are applying for.

5) Be cool and confident even if you aren't. Look him or her directly in the eye and don't fidget with your hands. Relax and you will appear confident even if you aren't. They expect a certain amount of nervousness but being shaky or looking down as you talk will only make you appear evasive or just plain dumb.

6) Talk with the interviewer but don't hog the conversation. Making small talk initially will set the mood but then let the interviewer lead and you follow by answering questions in a confident tone of voice. Never "bad mouth" a previous employer.

7) Don't wear lots perfume; they don't want to smell your presence in their office the rest of the day. And keep jewelry to a minimum, this is a job interview not a night on the town.

Cool Never chew gum at a job interview. But do make sure your breath is fresh, your teeth are brushed, and your smile is genuine.

9) Be positive, enthusiastic, and ready to meet new challenges that come with a new job. A positive attitude will show right through you.

In conclusion, treat your job interview as if it is a job in itself, and the compensation is long term employment. You are now a sales person and what you are selling is yourself! These interview tips should see you sailing through your interview. Well then, best of luck!

These days the thank you letter is a big part of the job search

strategy that you need to perfect when you're looking for that

perfect job. In the past people would write a short note to thank

their interviewer for their time and letting them know that they

are very interested in getting the job. In today's job search
market the thank you letter is much more than just a note to your
interviewer. In fact, the thank you letter is crucial if you want

to be seriously considered for the job.

You'll want to use the thank you letter as a way to address the key

points of the job interview that you just had. Discuss key areas

that were brought up by your interviewer so that you indicate that

you were listening at all times. You'll also want to show that you

have a good understanding of the goals of the company and what

direction they are taking.

Your thank you letter should be about one page in length. Any

longer and an employer will consider it to be over-kill. The

letter should be sent within three days of your interview. If you

wait much longer it may show that you're not really interested in

the job. watch out for my post about the second job intreview, tomorrow.

Until next time

When you do your weekly shopping at the supermarket, do you keep your eye out for bargains to fill your pantry? If canned spaghetti is half price this week, do you buy a couple of extra tins? Shopping for investments is just the same as buying spaghetti. We store investments to create wealth which can be spent in the future just as we store spaghetti in our pantry to be eaten later.

When is the best time to buy investments? When they are cheap. So when the price of shares drops, the logical thing to do is to buy more - right? Well, logical it may be, but human beings are strange creatures. When it comes to buying investments we seem to apply a perverse logic. Instead of celebrating the fact that there are bargains to be had, we complain that the value of the "spaghetti" we have in the "pantry" has fallen. This would of course be a problem if we had intended to sell the spaghetti this week, but it is reasonable to assume that this is not the case. What is evident throughout the history of sharemarkets is that investors buy more as prices go up, then panic and sell when prices drop. Yet logic tells us we should do exactly the opposite. The secrets of creating wealth through investing in shares are to be able to resist the emotional effects of price changes, to make sound investments at the right price and to take a long term view.

By nature, shares are volatile. Those investors who have the emotional strength to stick with the market through its troughs are rewarded with higher returns over the long term than are achievable through investments in fixed interest or property. Declines in the sharemarket are always temporary and should be seen as opportunities to buy.

One of the realities of share investing is that it is never possible to get your timing exactly right. Spaghetti might be half price this week, but next week it could be discounted by 60%, or it might be back up to full price. However, the longer the shares are held, the less important the initial purchase price becomes. If spaghetti increases in price to $5.00 a can in 10 years time, does it really matter if you paid $1.50 for it last week when you could have bought it for $1.25 this week?

If you are retired, you might argue that you won't be around in 10 years time and that shares are therefore not an appropriate investment. This is not true. The biggest investment risk retired investors face is that they will outlive their investment funds. If you need $5,000 a year to supplement your pension and you live for less than 10 years, then you will require a maximum of $50,000 to be invested in short term, stable investments. Any investment funds over this amount could be invested long term (i.e. for 10 years or more) in shares for a higher return, thus reducing the risk of outliving investment funds and increasing the value of your estate.

What a glorious day. You've come to that point in your life where you want someone else to help you manage your assets. What criteria should you use to find the right person for you?

Criteria One -- Are "they" trustworthy?

I know what a way to start a list. Use a big cliche. But, honestly, trust is what it is all about. However, how can you determine they are trustworthy? Here is comes the power of the internet, friends, and networking. Search the internet for the individual and the company they work for. You may need to narrow your search by location, but usually if there are good or bad reviews you will find them. Ask your friends who they use. Ask them if they have heard of this person or their company. Finally, ask your business contacts. You may in fact want to start with your friends and business associates to see who they use first and then do some research.

Criteria Two -- Are "they" good at what they do?

Simply put, how do they perform. This one is somewhat tough. But if most people lost 50% during the last downturn, but their clients only lost around 25%, that is a good indication that they are at least making better decisions than their counter-parts. You want to make sure they are worth what you are paying them for. On the other hand, you might want to make sure they aren't, too good. For instance, is their performance too good to be true. Think Bernie Madoff. He seemed to fit the first criteria and then smashed through the second. But remember rule #1 of investing. If it is too good to be true, it usually is.

Criteria Three -- Do "they" listen?

This one is somewhat easy to test. Give some odd details, interesting facts, some of your goals and dreams, etc. during your initial conversations. Then in subsequent meetings see if any of that comes up. If they are worth their salt, they will want to make you feel comfortable. The best way to do that is to be engaged and attuned to you. The best way for them to prove that is to have paid attention and be able to bring up some of the little details.

Criteria Four -- Are "they" pushy?

The last thing you want to do is to jump in and make a hasty decision. They need to earn your business, not the other way around. If they try to push you for a decision then they probably aren't for you. On the other hand, you also need to remember that time is money for them, too. Make sure the respect for time goes both ways.

Criteria Five -- Do "they" have support?

You might have been wondering why I kept using "they". You want to know there is some support behind the person. Whether it is a large firm or a smaller independent business, does your potential money manager have a team of people working with them that can back them up. And do these people also meet the criteria above. Does the support take time to listen to you, are the trustworthy, are they patient with you, etc.

By the way, I'm not a money manger, but these are the criteria I would look for. However, I haven't reached that glorious point in my life

Today, you're truly about to go where almost all
job-seekers will never go.

we established that if you're really serious
about landing a position that you're excited about, you
need to know exactly what your TARGET is and, if at all
possible, you should send your primary cover letter and
resume to that "secret place".

The "office" of the specific person who schedules
interviews. And you need to make sure that you address
your cover letter to this specific individual by name.

You should keep your
cover letter personal, friendly, enthusiastic and brief.

With that said, how can you double your chances of getting
that job interview?

Easy. You do exactly what 99% of all job-seekers don't do.

You do it again, send another cover letter.

That's right, you send the exact same person another cover
letter and resume. This is referred to as a "pre-interview"
follow-up cover letter. The only thing that changes here
is basically the first paragraph of your cover letter that
states the fact you are following up from your first contact
and again letting this person know that you are still
interested and available for the position.

Twice as nice. :-)

As a rule of thumb, wait 10 days to 2 weeks and if you have
not been called in for an interview, send the exact same
person a follow-up cover letter along with your resume
giving you a SECOND CHANCE at the job. So simple, so
obvious and so powerful, yet few actually do this.

Doesn't this make perfect sense to you? Take the time to
contact the company you'd like to work for and you will
likely get noticed the second time around.

It amazes me how so many job-seekers simply give up after
sending in one basic application for the job.

Hey, you want to do something really special? Get on the
phone and make a "follow-up phone call" as well. Look, if
you want the job you've got to do something about it. When
you do this, you'll instantly become that person a company
is looking for. A persistent, responsible "go-getter."

Can you tell me a company that is not looking for that type
of employee? I didn't think so. :-)
the very fact that you are sending
two cover letters to everyone else's one cover letter gives
you a mathematical 2 to 1 advantage of getting interviewed
over everyone else. That's something to get excited about
and you should absolutely take the time to do this.

Imagine mixing in a follow-up phone call to the right
person as well. Talk about pure power.

Remember: If you start sending follow-up cover letters
and making follow-up phone calls, you will get more
job interviews, and you WILL dramatically increase your
chances of getting the job you're searching for,
so be careful. ;-)

"What if I already have an interview scheduled from my first
cover letter?" Good question.

Tip: Once you're scheduled for a job interview you can send
another type of "pre-interview" follow-up cover letter
without your resume. This type of cover letter is sent to
confirm your appointment, enthusiasm, and the opportunity
it represents to you.

Again, keep this letter brief. This is a fantastic way to
stand out from the others who are also scheduled for an
interview by drawing positive attention to yourself right
before your interview.

I can't stress how big an advantage you'll gain by using
follow-up cover letters and phone calls during your job
search.


Yours for career success,

Today, you're truly about to go where almost all
job-seekers will never go.

we established that if you're really serious
about landing a position that you're excited about, you
need to know exactly what your TARGET is and, if at all
possible, you should send your primary cover letter and
resume to that "secret place".

The "office" of the specific person who schedules
interviews. And you need to make sure that you address
your cover letter to this specific individual by name.

You should keep your
cover letter personal, friendly, enthusiastic and brief.

With that said, how can you double your chances of getting
that job interview?

Easy. You do exactly what 99% of all job-seekers don't do.

You do it again, send another cover letter.

That's right, you send the exact same person another cover
letter and resume. This is referred to as a "pre-interview"
follow-up cover letter. The only thing that changes here
is basically the first paragraph of your cover letter that
states the fact you are following up from your first contact
and again letting this person know that you are still
interested and available for the position.

Twice as nice. :-)

As a rule of thumb, wait 10 days to 2 weeks and if you have
not been called in for an interview, send the exact same
person a follow-up cover letter along with your resume
giving you a SECOND CHANCE at the job. So simple, so
obvious and so powerful, yet few actually do this.

Doesn't this make perfect sense to you? Take the time to
contact the company you'd like to work for and you will
likely get noticed the second time around.

It amazes me how so many job-seekers simply give up after
sending in one basic application for the job.

Hey, you want to do something really special? Get on the
phone and make a "follow-up phone call" as well. Look, if
you want the job you've got to do something about it. When
you do this, you'll instantly become that person a company
is looking for. A persistent, responsible "go-getter."

Can you tell me a company that is not looking for that type
of employee? I didn't think so. :-)
the very fact that you are sending
two cover letters to everyone else's one cover letter gives
you a mathematical 2 to 1 advantage of getting interviewed
over everyone else. That's something to get excited about
and you should absolutely take the time to do this.

Imagine mixing in a follow-up phone call to the right
person as well. Talk about pure power.

Remember: If you start sending follow-up cover letters
and making follow-up phone calls, you will get more
job interviews, and you WILL dramatically increase your
chances of getting the job you're searching for,
so be careful. ;-)

"What if I already have an interview scheduled from my first
cover letter?" Good question.

Tip: Once you're scheduled for a job interview you can send
another type of "pre-interview" follow-up cover letter
without your resume. This type of cover letter is sent to
confirm your appointment, enthusiasm, and the opportunity
it represents to you.

Again, keep this letter brief. This is a fantastic way to
stand out from the others who are also scheduled for an
interview by drawing positive attention to yourself right
before your interview.

I can't stress how big an advantage you'll gain by using
follow-up cover letters and phone calls during your job
search.


Yours for career success,

Experience and education may not be a deciding factor in getting a job. Your wants and needs matter even less.

Getting a good job starts with a great interview and that means acknowledging the interview process is not just about you. It's equally important you understand the job you're applying for, what the company does and how it operates.

Without information about the job you may be putting yourself in a position of someone having little conviction or commitment. Worse yet, it may send a signal you have an entitlement mentality.

Competition for good jobs is fierce. Relying on skills, education and experience is not enough to cut it.

You must demonstrate you're not simply a candidate but the best candidate. Target your presentation to the company and people you're interviewing with.

Base your presentation on filling needs and fitting in. Don't leave key points to the interviewer's imagination.

Approach every interview like it's an opportunity to work for the next Cisco or Google. Keep in mind you can turn down a poor job offer but once you've blown an opportunity and been shown the door, it's almost impossible to get back in.

The knowledge you gain before the interview is what separates you from average. It's what helps get you to the top of the must-have list.

Use the internet to research the company. Seek help from people that can give you insight. In short, do whatever it takes to position you as the outstanding candidate and nothing less.

Don't take the risk of knocking yourself out of contention because you weren't willing to do the homework.

The secret to dazzling on job interviews is being prepared. Good interviews are not likely to happen by accident.

Experience and education may not be a deciding factor in getting a job. Your wants and needs matter even less.

Getting a good job starts with a great interview and that means acknowledging the interview process is not just about you. It's equally important you understand the job you're applying for, what the company does and how it operates.

Without information about the job you may be putting yourself in a position of someone having little conviction or commitment. Worse yet, it may send a signal you have an entitlement mentality.

Competition for good jobs is fierce. Relying on skills, education and experience is not enough to cut it.

You must demonstrate you're not simply a candidate but the best candidate. Target your presentation to the company and people you're interviewing with.

Base your presentation on filling needs and fitting in. Don't leave key points to the interviewer's imagination.

Approach every interview like it's an opportunity to work for the next Cisco or Google. Keep in mind you can turn down a poor job offer but once you've blown an opportunity and been shown the door, it's almost impossible to get back in.

The knowledge you gain before the interview is what separates you from average. It's what helps get you to the top of the must-have list.

Use the internet to research the company. Seek help from people that can give you insight. In short, do whatever it takes to position you as the outstanding candidate and nothing less.

Don't take the risk of knocking yourself out of contention because you weren't willing to do the homework.

The secret to dazzling on job interviews is being prepared. Good interviews are not likely to happen by accident.

Getting hired can be one of the hardest things many of us ever have to do. It can seem like a beauty pageant, a foot race, and a final exam all in one and the prize is a job you will hopefully keep for the next twenty years or more. Beating out the competition for that position is what the job interview is all about and you can win with a few tips that will set you apart from the average interviewee.

1) Rehearse an interview with a friend or relative so you will be relaxed and feeling confident when you actually do an interview with an HR person.

2) Research the business so you know exactly what they do and what they may expect of you as an employee. Let the interviewer know you care about their organization and you want to be a part of it by having some knowledge regarding what their function is and what will be expected of you, their new employee.

3) Dress appropriately. Even if the job you're applying for is blue collar you should wear "office attire" to make a good impression at an interview. Wear something simple and clean.

4) Be there early for that interview by at least ten or fifteen minutes. If you are late for the job interview they will think this shows you have no respect for them or the position you are applying for.

5) Be cool and confident even if you aren't. Look him or her directly in the eye and don't fidget with your hands. Relax and you will appear confident even if you aren't. They expect a certain amount of nervousness but being shaky or looking down as you talk will only make you appear evasive or just plain dumb.

6) Talk with the interviewer but don't hog the conversation. Making small talk initially will set the mood but then let the interviewer lead and you follow by answering questions in a confident tone of voice. Never "bad mouth" a previous employer.

7) Don't wear lots perfume; they don't want to smell your presence in their office the rest of the day. And keep jewelry to a minimum, this is a job interview not a night on the town.

Never chew gum at a job interview. But do make sure your breath is fresh, your teeth are brushed, and your smile is genuine.

9) Be positive, enthusiastic, and ready to meet new challenges that come with a new job. A positive attitude will show right through you.

In conclusion, treat your job interview as if it is a job in itself, and the compensation is long term employment. You are now a sales person and what you are selling is yourself! These interview tips should see you sailing through your interview. Well then, best of luck!

Getting hired can be one of the hardest things many of us ever have to do. It can seem like a beauty pageant, a foot race, and a final exam all in one and the prize is a job you will hopefully keep for the next twenty years or more. Beating out the competition for that position is what the job interview is all about and you can win with a few tips that will set you apart from the average interviewee.

1) Rehearse an interview with a friend or relative so you will be relaxed and feeling confident when you actually do an interview with an HR person.

2) Research the business so you know exactly what they do and what they may expect of you as an employee. Let the interviewer know you care about their organization and you want to be a part of it by having some knowledge regarding what their function is and what will be expected of you, their new employee.

3) Dress appropriately. Even if the job you're applying for is blue collar you should wear "office attire" to make a good impression at an interview. Wear something simple and clean.

4) Be there early for that interview by at least ten or fifteen minutes. If you are late for the job interview they will think this shows you have no respect for them or the position you are applying for.

5) Be cool and confident even if you aren't. Look him or her directly in the eye and don't fidget with your hands. Relax and you will appear confident even if you aren't. They expect a certain amount of nervousness but being shaky or looking down as you talk will only make you appear evasive or just plain dumb.

6) Talk with the interviewer but don't hog the conversation. Making small talk initially will set the mood but then let the interviewer lead and you follow by answering questions in a confident tone of voice. Never "bad mouth" a previous employer.

7) Don't wear lots perfume; they don't want to smell your presence in their office the rest of the day. And keep jewelry to a minimum, this is a job interview not a night on the town.

Never chew gum at a job interview. But do make sure your breath is fresh, your teeth are brushed, and your smile is genuine.

9) Be positive, enthusiastic, and ready to meet new challenges that come with a new job. A positive attitude will show right through you.

In conclusion, treat your job interview as if it is a job in itself, and the compensation is long term employment. You are now a sales person and what you are selling is yourself! These interview tips should see you sailing through your interview. Well then, best of luck!

Here are the 5 critical keys to writing an interview-winning resume. These have worked for me and others time and time again. I've not only used them to get jobs, but I've used them to change jobs, change industries and change careers, and they've never failed me.
Surprisingly, most job seekers will never apply each of these 5 keys. Which means that if you do you'll have a major edge over everyone else competing for the same job.


1. Tailor your cover letter and resume to the job.

Never, ever use the same, generic resume for each job you apply for! You want the recruiter or employer who scans (and then reads) your cover letter and resume to know immediately that you're (a) ideal for the job, and (b) have made an extra effort to understand the company and its needs.

2. Use the same keywords in your resume as those in the job advertisement or job description.

There are two main reasons for this. Firstly, your resume is going to be scanned - generally by a human, but sometimes by a computer - so whoever is doing the scanning will be looking for signs that you match (or don't match) the job being advertised. A major sign is the language you use - if you're using the same keywords as those used in the job ad or description, it tells the reader that you're more likely to be a match.

3. Write your resume to be scanned.

Here, I don't just mean scanned for keywords, but I mean scanned so that you either jump out as a job candidate to be interviewed, or a candidate to be rejected. Now you want to jump out as someone to be interviewed, so you need to ensure that your cover letter and resume quickly and easily communicates your suitability for the job.

4. Sell yourself.

The primary aim of your job application - your cover letter and resume - is to persuade someone to give you a job interview. It follows that every element of that cover letter and resume - from the words you use (and don't use) to the overall presentation - should sell the reader on giving you an interview.

5. Follows the conventions of the relevant company, profession or industry.

Depending on the job, company, industry or profession you're trying to break into, there may be certain conventions about such things as how your resume should look, how long it should be, and what it should say. It's critical that your cover letter and resume follows these conventions - even if you're new to the company, industry or profession. Otherwise, you end up flagging to the recruiter or employer that you don't have a clue about the position you're applying for (let alone have the qualifications to do it), and you almost certainly won't get the interview.
Okay, so there you have the 5 critical keys to writing a resume that gets you the job interview. I encourage you to apply these whenever you apply for a job, whether or not you write your own resume, hire a professional resume writer, or use some kind of software or template to prepare your resume.
Of course, that begs the question: what's the best way to get a resume that gets you the job interview? Well, as indicated above, you have a number of choices. Here at Resume Writing Pro we strongly recommend you consider our professional resume writing services. After all, there's no risk to you (with our money back guarantee) and you get to relax while someone else puts in the time and effort necessary to bring your resume up to the high quality standard it needs to be.

Here are the 5 critical keys to writing an interview-winning resume. These have worked for me and others time and time again. I've not only used them to get jobs, but I've used them to change jobs, change industries and change careers, and they've never failed me.
Surprisingly, most job seekers will never apply each of these 5 keys. Which means that if you do you'll have a major edge over everyone else competing for the same job.

1. Tailor your cover letter and resume to the job.


Never, ever use the same, generic resume for each job you apply for! You want the recruiter or employer who scans (and then reads) your cover letter and resume to know immediately that you're (a) ideal for the job, and (b) have made an extra effort to understand the company and its needs.

2. Use the same keywords in your resume as those in the job advertisement or job description.

There are two main reasons for this. Firstly, your resume is going to be scanned - generally by a human, but sometimes by a computer - so whoever is doing the scanning will be looking for signs that you match (or don't match) the job being advertised. A major sign is the language you use - if you're using the same keywords as those used in the job ad or description, it tells the reader that you're more likely to be a match.

3. Write your resume to be scanned.

Here, I don't just mean scanned for keywords, but I mean scanned so that you either jump out as a job candidate to be interviewed, or a candidate to be rejected. Now you want to jump out as someone to be interviewed, so you need to ensure that your cover letter and resume quickly and easily communicates your suitability for the job.

4. Sell yourself. The primary aim of your job application - your cover letter and resume

- is to persuade someone to give you a job interview. It follows that every element of that cover letter and resume - from the words you use (and don't use) to the overall presentation - should sell the reader on giving you an interview.

5. Follows the conventions of the relevant company, profession or industry. Depending on the job, company, industry or profession you're trying to break into, there may be certain conventions about such things as how your resume should look, how long it should be, and what it should say. It's critical that your cover letter and resume follows these conventions - even if you're new to the company, industry or profession. Otherwise, you end up flagging to the recruiter or employer that you don't have a clue about the position you're applying for (let alone have the qualifications to do it), and you almost certainly won't get the interview.
Okay, so there you have the 5 critical keys to writing a resume that gets you the job interview. I encourage you to apply these whenever you apply for a job, whether or not you write your own resume, hire a professional resume writer, or use some kind of software or template to prepare your resume.
Of course, that begs the question: what's the best way to get a resume that gets you the job interview? Well, as indicated above, you have a number of choices. Here at Resume Writing Pro we strongly recommend you consider our professional resume writing services. After all, there's no risk to you (with our money back guarantee) and you get to relax while someone else puts in the time and effort necessary to bring your resume up to the high quality standard it needs to be.

Late arrival to the job interview.

This is the worst mistake of them all. First impressions really do matter and they are remembered for a very long time even when they are not accurate. If you show up late for your job interview you have made the one of the worst mistakes you can. No matter what your skills or how well you interview you may not be able to recover from this mistake. By showing up late to the interview you leave the employer to wonder if you are going to also show up late for work. Always plan to show up at least 45 minutes early.

Offering brainless excuses for past behavior.

We all make mistakes in our life. The sign of a true professional is someone that owns their mistakes. Excuses are a pretty big red flag to most potential employers. The reason being is that it indicates that a person is unwilling to take responsibility and do the work at hand. Here's an example of a horrible excuse; "I'm late for the interview because I got lost. Your directions weren't very good." Next!

Being inarticulate during the interview.

If you don't know what that word means look it up. If you speak poorly from the tone of your voice to grammar or even use slang during the interview you are killing yourself. Another big killer is when people use a lot of fillers "like", "okay", "um" and "you know". You may be one of the smartest people on the planet but if that is how you speak you will not present yourself that way. Plus if you are verbally sloppy your writing is probably the same. These are things that are not attractive to employers.
Showing little enthusiasm or drive for the position. There have been way too many interviews where I felt I was inconveniencing the job seeker during the interview. By appearing to be just looking for any job and a paycheck or coming off as being indifferent will really hurt your chances of getting hired. This type of behavior is usually a good indicator that the applicant would need very close supervision to properly do their job because of lack of motivation and drive.

Having a shoddy appearance.

The way you look reflects upon how people think of you. If you show up to an interview in an unkept manner it will imply that will be the quality of your work. No matter what the position you are applying for you need to be clean and neat in your interview attire. When in doubt men should always go with a traditional suit in solid colors. Women should also go with a traditional suit and skirt and a blouse in solid and conservative colors. If a suit would be overkill for the position you are applying for trouser and a button down shirt is appropriate. A general rule of thumb when deciding on attire for the interview is take whatever the appropriate dress for the position is on a daily basis and go a step higher.