Great news! You’ve been invited to a face-to-face job interview! You’re understandably excited about meeting and making a favorable impression on the interviewer. You know you have the skills and experience they are looking for, and you’re confident that you can convince the hiring manager that you’re a perfect fit for the job.

You may be right about your qualifications, and you could be persuasive enough to convince them that you’re a good fit, but you could just lose that job before you even get to the interview. Here’s how it happens:

You don’t show up on time

Sometimes being late is unavoidable. But remember, being late reflects poorly on your work ethic and your professionalism. As a rule of thumb, show up ten minutes early for your appointment. Punctuality is one of the soft skills you can display immediately.

You dress inappropriately

No, you don’t need to wear a suit if you’re interviewing for a manufacturing job. But don’t show up in a tie-dye t-shirt with ripped jeans either. Much of making a good first impression comes from the way you dress. No matter what type of industrial job you’re seeking, you’ll never be wrong with dressy casual.

Your body language tells the wrong story

Want to make a bad impression? Don’t smile, avoid eye contact, and offer a dead fish for a handshake. Your body language tells the interviewer about you before you open your mouth. If you send out these kinds of cues, you might as well announce that you’re not a team player. And you won’t be invited to play on the team!

You’re rude to the receptionist and other support staff

Here is something you may not have thought about: You are being assessed the moment you walk in the door. Think about that if you’re tempted to be rude to the receptionist or take on an arrogant air with the maintenance man who is passing through the reception area. Either one of these employees might later be asked for their opinion of you.

Your language is inappropriate

Maybe you come from a job or background where profanity and other inappropriate language is accepted. Don’t bring it to your interview. The last thing you want to do is be labeled as offensive, insensitive, or downright ignorant before you even meet the hiring manager.

You trash a current or past employer

Badmouthing a current or former employer will not impress anyone. People are watching and listening before you even get called back for the interview. Criticizing your boss or company shows a complete lack of professional decorum and discretion. Keep those thoughts to yourself.

Let us help you before your next interview

We can help you get ready! We are HCR Personnel Solutions, a leading manufacturing recruitment agency in Canada that recruits top professionals for exceptional career opportunities. We’re here to do what it takes to get you into your next manufacturing job. Give us a call!