We wanted to list the 5 biggest interview mistakes that our clients have committed.  They might sound like common sense, but they happen every day and many of our clients, even after being told and reviewed, still make them.  Here are what we consider the 5 biggest interview mistakes:

1)  Arriving late - Not only a terrible first impression, but also shows a lack of respect.  If for some reason that you are going to be late, call the person conducting the interview and let them know.  The people interviewing you are typically very busy and have rearranged their schedules to interview you.  Respect that. Give yourself extra time and the worse that will happen is that you are a bit early.

2) Dressing wrong - We had a candidate that showed up in a very conservative southeastern town and met the CEO with purple sunglasses on and an earring on.  He was a well accomplished Orthopedic Surgeon and they needed one desparatley.  He did not get the job and they made that decision about 17 seconds into the interview when they saw him.

3) Having your children in the interview - We had a client that was invited for a site visit.  The facility paid for her and her family for the visit.  Instead of having the husband watch the kids somewhere appropriate, he and the kids, which were small and very active, joined her in the interview.  It was a constant interuption and very disturbing.  She did not get the job. 

By the way, unless invited the spouse should not be in the interview room as well.  Most facilities that we work with plan activities for the spouse at this time to insure that there is no disruption.

4.  You or your spouse falling asleep during the interview - I know, I know this sounds like a joke.  But it really happened.  Again, a facility paid for a physician and his wife to come and interview at the facility.  All was going well and then they planned to take the physician and his wife on a tour of the area and to look at potential housing options.  During that time, the physicians wife fell asleep and never woke up until the end.  The facility took it as she was not very interested and not very repectful.  The physician wanted the job.  The facility did not hire him.

5. Telling the facility that you will be there for 3 years to get your waiver - No one wants to be used.  Facilities are looking to hire people that want to work there, be happy working there, and potentially stay for a long time.  Good facilities don’t want to hire someone every 3 years as it is expensive and time consuming.  Think about it, if you take the job, we only work with facilities that pay moving expenses, typically pay for your legal expenses and in many cases give a sign on bonus.  And if the client tells them that they are just using them for a waiver, then why would they want to hire you.

Related to that, we have had clients tell facililities that they want the job but really wants to get into cardiology (or other discipline) or academics.  Again, this just shows a facility that you want to use them for a waiver and nothing more.  And no facility wants to be used.

Look, everyone makes mistakes during an interview.  You can become nervous or caught off guard during the process.  Our recommendation is to be prepared.  Take it seriously and understand that the interview is a reflection on you and what type of person you are.  They are judging whether or not they can work with you 40 or 50 hours a week.  You should be doing the same thing.

These 5 mistakes almost insure that you do not get the job.  And it might be a job that you really wanted.