- any sign of arrogance or excessive aggressiveness; any signs of tardiness or failure to keep appointments and commitments on time, including this interview; or
- any sign of laziness or lack of motivation; or
- any sign of constant complaining or blaming things on others; or
- any signs of dishonesty or lying-- especially on your resume or during the interview; or
- any signs of irresponsibility or tendency to goof off; or
- any sign of not following instructions or obeying rules; or
- any sign of a lack of enthusiasm for this organization and what it is trying to do; or
- any sign of instability, inappropriate response, and the like; or
- incidentally, many an employer will watch to see if you smoke, either in the office or at lunch. In a race between two equally qualified people, the nonsmoker will win out over the smoker 94% of the time, according to a study done by a professor of business at Seattle University. Sorry to report this, but there it is!
So, there you have it: these are the metaphorical mosquitoes that can kill you, when you're on the watch for dragons, during the hiring-interview.
One favor I ask of you: do not write me, telling me how picayune or asinine some of this is. I know that. I'm not reporting the world as it should be, and certainly not as I would like it to be. I'm only reporting what study after study has revealed about the world as it is. And how it affects your chances of getting hired.
But here's the good news, when all is said and done: you can kill all of these mosquitoes. Yes, you control and can change every one of these factors. Go back and read the list and see!