10. Arrogance
It sounds silly—of course no one knows everything! But the type of responses that some people give in either the interview or in team meetings implies that they think they know it all … and aren’t open to learning new things.
9. Lacking Humility
The world doesn’t revolve around you, but you’d never know it by the way you talk. Give and put others first, and you will reap the benefits.
8. Oversharing
Someone asking you, “How are you doing?” isn’t permission to tell him or her deep, dark secrets or intimate details. Know the context of the discussion and where it’s appropriate.
7. TLDR (Too Long; Didn’t Read) emails
Sending the hiring manager or your past manager an excessively long email guarantees that they won’t read it. Reference point #10 above. If you find yourself writing long missives, pause and ask yourself, “What’s the point?” Boil it down and send that instead.
6. Lacking self-awareness
Do you have a clear perception of your strengths and weaknesses? If you don’t, ask people who know you well where you might need to grow. And, of course, take and apply the feedback—that’s the point!
5. Lacking personal hygiene
I knew I had become a manager when I told someone that they needed to bathe. Please don’t be that person!
4. Not playing well with others
Every company is hiring for you to be part of a team. That means you need to interact with others. If you take pride in being a solo player, you won’t land that amazing job with the amazing team.
3. Not being prepared
There is a lot of research you need to do about the company before getting to the interview. Do your homework in advance—it’s obvious if you haven’t.
2. Company culture clash
You don’t set company culture—you are part of it. If you have an overly casual personal brand or some of your own quirks, you may need to change. Don’t let your preference for wild facial hair, graphic tees, or lack of personal bubble keep you from a great job.
1. Being late
The hiring manager doesn’t care if traffic was bad or if your cat overslept. Be early and you won’t have to apologize.
Getting ready for an upcoming interview? Check out our list of 10 things to practice.
