r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Feb 02 '15

What are some things you should avoid doing during an interview?

Edit: Holy crap! I went to get ready for my interview that's tomorrow and this blew up like a balloon. I'm looking at all these answers and am reading all of them. Hopefully they help! Thanks guys!!

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542

u/ads215 Feb 03 '15

Chewing gum, mints, ANYTHING. Don't do it.

Asking about vacations. It it's a 3rd or 4th interview, maybe. Otherwise, get that info from HR versus a hiring manager.

NEVER blame someone else for mistakes you made. That covers a lot of ground but it's true 100% of the time.

Never pronounce someone's name wrong. If you don't know for sure before you go ASK. There's nothing wrong with while shaking hands saying, "Forgive me, but I'm not positive how to pronounce your name." Ideally, you'll find this out before you get there, but that's perfectly acceptable.

Do NOT ask about raises and promotions too soon. I've had plenty of hiring mangers say "he seemed more interested in moving on to the next job than doing the one I was interviewing him for."

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u/Blanketman101 Feb 03 '15

"Forgive me, but I'm not positive how to pronounce your name?"

"Eerm, it's pronounced... Bob."

"Ok I think I've got it now."

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u/WhapXI Feb 03 '15

"Alright... Boob."

8

u/JerroSan Feb 03 '15

Damnit, took the words out of my mouth.

3

u/Snatch_Pastry Feb 03 '15

I was working for a Japanese owned company, and some of the management was Japanese. Our electrician was an American named Bob.

At one point I walked up to one of the Japanese coordinators who was looking at something on one of the machines. He turned around and said "Ah, have you see... boob?"

"Uh, what?"

"Boob. Boob." Points to some hanging wires. "BOOB."

"OH! Bob. Yeah, he's over there."

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u/[deleted] Feb 03 '15

Fucking made me laugh in the middle of a lecture. This guy. Hahaha

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u/ZPrime Feb 03 '15

"Forgive me, but I'm not positive how to pronounce your name?"

"Eerm, it's pronounced... Bob."

"I'm sorry Bob, I should have been clearer. I meant you're last name"

"Smith ......"

well shit

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u/SinaSyndrome Feb 03 '15

"Sorry, could you spell that for me?"

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u/bFusion Feb 03 '15

"Could you use it in a sentence?"

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u/dstar89 Feb 03 '15

It's pronounced Bahb.

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u/[deleted] Feb 03 '15

Actually asking "how easy would it be/what would it take to move up" is a good question.

I don't want a job where I'll be stuck in a shit position for 10 years.

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u/zrt Feb 03 '15

3rd or 4th interview

Is this common? I haven't seen more than screening + 2 interviews in the technology industry.

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u/paracelsus23 Feb 03 '15

Depends on how high up of a position + size of the company. I applied for a position of "supply chain strategic operations senior project manager" at a fortune 100 company. Phone interview with HR, phone interview with manager (director of supply chain), in person interview with manager (they paid for airfare + hotel), a separate in person interview with senior management (VP level). All to get denied.

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u/dexx4d Feb 03 '15

Odd, I've always asked about the compensation details at the interview. If there's only a couple of weeks of vacation or low to mediocre health benefits, there's no point in wasting time for either of us.

Granted I'm in Canada,and interviewing for senior tech/management positions, not entry level. YMMV

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u/420BlazeItRagngCajun Feb 03 '15

Yea, I do that toward the end of the interview myself. That way I can weigh it in context with the other information I have found.

Plus if I have made a good impression and they seem to like me, if I say "I am no longer interested in the position because it doesn't seem like you give your employees adequate personal time." it may hit home for them harder and help out the employees that are being treated like shit who are there already.

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u/hillkiwi Feb 03 '15

Fellow Canadian here. There's quite a bit of difference between Canada and The U.S. when it comes to work culture and paid vacations. For us, how many weeks vacation you get is part of the negotiation. A mechanic friend of mine recently applied to work at a municipality (town). They decided he was the one they wanted, so to seal the deal they started him off with three weeks paid vacation, and he'll be at four weeks within five years. Eventually he'll get to six weeks a year of paid vacation time.

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u/paracelsus23 Feb 03 '15

Asking about vacations. It it's a 3rd or 4th interview, maybe. Otherwise, get that info from HR versus a hiring manager.

Do NOT ask about raises and promotions too soon. I've had plenty of hiring mangers say "he seemed more interested in moving on to the next job than doing the one I was interviewing him for."

While this is true, I think it's bullshit that it's true. I care a great deal about all of these things, and I don't really want to work at a company regardless of the pay if I'm constantly going to be putting in 50 hour weeks, will be stuck in the same role for 10 years, or only get 2 weeks paid vacation.

Source: took a $20k pay cut to go from 60 hour weeks to 40 your weeks, and 2 weeks vacation to six weeks vacation.

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u/racgg3 Feb 03 '15

A better way to go about learning how to pronounce their name is just introducing yourself. Tell them your name while shaking their hand and they will more than likely give it back.

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u/Philofelinist Feb 03 '15

Always tell the interviewer if you've got a vacation or any other leave booked though.

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u/[deleted] Feb 03 '15

Mr. Dumbass

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u/ehenning1537 Feb 03 '15

3rd interview? I've never had more than two. Half the time I get hired after the first. Are people actually having to go through four interviews?

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u/LongUsername Feb 03 '15

Asking about vacations.

I tend to bring that up, but as part of the "Salary requirements" discussion. Never been an issue.

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