Interviewees who can't make conversation, who talk incessantly or who continually check their phones leave a bad impression that not even an impeccable resume or glowing reference can offset.
Unprofessional Communication Channels
After hiring managers cull through their lineup and select a finalist, they get ready to send an email with the job offer. But then they see "hotmama" or "partydude" in your handle. Or, they call to make you an offer and your voicemail blasts them with heavy metal music. There’s a good chance they'll move on to their runner-up candidate and you'll be back to the resume-submitting stage again.
After hiring managers cull through their lineup and select a finalist, they get ready to send an email with the job offer. But then they see "hotmama" or "partydude" in your handle. Or, they call to make you an offer and your voicemail blasts them with heavy metal music. There’s a good chance they'll move on to their runner-up candidate and you'll be back to the resume-submitting stage again.
Surviving the initial cut in a job applicant pool to land an interview is a good step on your way to that sought-after job offer. You can gain confidence knowing that your professional credentials passed the HR department's scrutiny. In the interview, the hiring manager will ask for more details about your qualifications. Still, the ultimate decision will have less to do with how well you fit the job description, and more to do with the social skills you display in the interview.
A 2015 study from The Creative Group found that most social blunders during interviews result from thoughtlessness or poor interpersonal skills -- and those blunders often become deal breakers. Interviewees who can't make conversation, who talk incessantly or who continually check their phones leave a bad impression that not even an impeccable resume or glowing reference can offset.
In this slideshow, Vicky Oliver, a leading career development expert, has identified five social slip-ups that could act as a red flag for hiring managers.
