The 11 most common job interview mistakes

In previous jobs and now in my role as managing editor at CNBC, I’ve conducted dozens of job interviews.

I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly, and I’m always amazed at the basic things candidates screw up.

Here are the most common interview mistakes I see people make.

1. Arriving late
Because job applicants often have multiple interviews scheduled with different managers back-to-back, two things can happen when you show up late: Either your first interview is cut short, or you disrupt multiple interviewers’ schedules. Neither is good for you as it either saves you time with the interviewer or makes a lot of people grumble.

2. Arriving too early
On the other hand, arriving too early can also annoy the hiring manager as it is equally disruptive to their schedule. It is important to arrive at least 10 minutes early to get through security and check in at the front desk, but it is a mistake to arrive earlier than 15 minutes before your scheduled interview time.

3. Looks unpolished
Looking put together signals that you care about the interview and want to do your best. All too often, however, people show up to interviews looking rumpled, wrinkled, blotchy, and wearing clothes that don’t quite fit. This is not a fashion show, but it is important to choose your outfit carefully, comb your hair and look in the mirror before you arrive.

4. Not carrying a resume
In an ideal scenario, the hiring manager would be ready with your resume, but days are busy and not every interviewer is organized. This means you should always have a copy for each person you expect to meet, plus some extras in case you have unexpected interviews. Not only is it practically useful, but it also signals that you are thoughtful and prepared.

5. Low energy display
It’s hard to pin down, but an interview killer. Here’s what it looks like: slumped shoulders, lack of eye contact, slow to answer questions, and a general lack of enthusiasm for the company or the role. If you clearly don’t want the job, it’s almost impossible to convince someone to give it to you.

6. Focusing too much on yourself
We talk endlessly about what you you want how this work is the direction you want to further your career and how the experience would be great for you is a meaningless prod to the interviewer.

Companies don’t pay you to help you out! They hire you because you have qualities and skills that will help them achieve their goals. Use your answers to illustrate how you can be helpful to the hiring manager.

7. He looks unprepared
Also, if you don’t demonstrate basic knowledge of the role or provide clear examples of your previous performance, it looks like you just jumped in after just looking at the company’s website.

Interviewers tend to ask the same basic questions about your experience, skills, interest in the company, and why you think it’s a good fit. Read at least about the company and prepare a few anecdotes about projects you have successfully completed.

8. No questions asked
Most interviewers allow time at the end to answer questions. They usually know you’re checking them out, too, and want to make sure the conversation is two-way. This is also a bit of a test. The questions you ask often reveal how you think and what is important to you. It also shows that you care enough about the job to want to know more.

Not having prepared questions signals that you’re not interested, you’re not curious, or you haven’t done your homework. If you get stuck, throw out an old backup question like, “What does success look like in this role?” or “What’s the culture here?”

9. Asking weird personal questions
Conversely, some candidates get too personal with their questions. I’ve had people ask me about my family, previous companies I’ve worked for, and why I chose to leave one company for another. This line of questioning can make the hiring manager feel uncomfortable and also doesn’t clarify anything about you or them.

10. Forgetting to Track
So many people forget this basic rule of interviewing: Follow up within 24 hours with an email to thank the interviewer for their time and emphasize your interest in the position. If you don’t, hiring managers might think you’re not interested or organized, or they might just forget about you.

11. Follow up too aggressively
While it’s important to follow up, you shouldn’t send multiple emails or call an interviewer. It’s extremely inconvenient to receive a call out of the blue from someone wanting to know why they haven’t heard from you. Send your follow-up email and then move on with your life. Anything more is probably too much.

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