8 Common Faux-Pas to Avoid During Your Next Face-to-Face Interview 

Unemployment rates are the lowest they’ve been since June of 2008, ending December 2014 at 5.6%. Employers are actively interviewing candidates to help them grow their businesses, which is great news if you’re looking for a new job.

That said, it’s still vital to have a great resume, be ready to answer the most routine interview questions, and avoid blunders made during that all important sit-down with your prospective boss.

Therefore, here are some smart guidelines about what not to do – steer clear of these, and you’ll increase your chances of positioning yourself for success:

Not Dressing Up – Just because the interview is with a tech firm in the Bay Area and the common dress code is casual, doesn’t mean you should show up in jeans and a t-shirt. What you’re wearing is the first thing your interviewer will notice upon meeting you, so it’s important to always dress for success at a job interview. Ask the recruiter for the company’s dress code. If it’s casual, dress business casual; if it’s business casual, dress business; and if it’s business, you definitely should dress business!

Arriving Late – A job interview isn’t a party, so arriving fashionably late is not an option. Make sure you arrive at least ten to fifteen minutes early and notify the receptionist or recruiter immediately upon your arrival. You’ll also want to look online or use your navigation system to check traffic an hour or so before you leave. You might even want to consider doing a “dry run” the day before, so you know where you’re going and you won’t get lost. This is particularly important if you’re taking public transportation. And if you’re not, scope out some parking spaces to increase your chances of easily cruising into them on interview day.

Not Telling the Truth – In today’s digital world, it’s impossible to get away with lies and even embellishments on your resumé. Don’t pad your resumé with statistics or statements that aren’t true. Sell yourself based on true accomplishments. If you’re unsure of the best way to do that, hire a resumé coach to teach you the correct way to make your activities sound impactful. Lying during your interview can do more harm than good and can even be grounds for dismissal at a later date.

Being Negative About Past Employers – No one wants to hire someone who talks unfavorably about past employers. It doesn’t matter if it’s fact or opinion; talking adversely about your former employers makes you look bad, even immature. So always take the higher road and keep your responses positive. If you struggle with saving wonderful things about your old bosses, focus on the great projects you actually did instead of any antagonistic feelings you might have for your previous company, manager, colleagues, etc.

Not Doing Your Homework – This should be common knowledge, but never walk into an interview knowing nothing about the company you’re interview with. A quick online search on the company will yield a list of press releases, LinkedIn profiles, financial statements for publically-traded companies, and a list of other resources. This works in your favor as well: you will be prepared for your interview, and get an in-depth chance to ensure this is a company where you want to work.

Not Asking Questions – After the interviewer has run through his or her list of interview questions, it’s almost certain the last question the interviewer will ask you is – “Do you have any questions for me?” It is extremely important that you are prepared to ask at least three or four questions about the company and the position you’re interviewing for.  If you answer “no,” the interviewer will assume you’re not prepared or not interested enough in the specifics of the job.

Discussing Benefits Too Soon – An initial interview is not the time to ask about salary, vacation time, or health benefits. That will typically happen during the final interview, or if you’re lucky enough, in an offer letter after the first interview. Once the employer brings up the topic of salary and benefits, it is then appropriate for you to ask clarifying question or inform them if you have any concerns.

Not Sending a Thank-You Note – Always send a thank-you note to everyone with whom you had a sit-down meeting. You don’t have to send written; digital is often preferred, since you’ll want it to arrive before they make a big decision, so it’s best to send it the same day or the next day. In any case, don’t wait too long – and, for goodness’ sake, don’t send a mass note.  Send individual notes to each person, but add a few custom comments from your discussion with them. Entrepreneur.com published a piece on “How to Write an Unforgettable Thank You Note”

Interviewing can be intimidating and stressful. So eliminate any unnecessary pitfalls and set yourself up for success!