Big Job Interview Mistakes that Could Cost You the Job Offer

Job seekers are frequently provided advice on how to dress, how to behave, how to design their resume and how to handle interview questions, all in an effort to win over an employer. However, where many candidates are failing to advance in the hiring process is when it comes to the actual job offer itself.

After the final interview, there are still several steps yet to complete before a candidate actually begins work and many times job offers are contingent on making it through these final steps. So while job seekers are on the right track for landing that new job, they shouldn't let down their guard. Instead they need to consider if they are sabotaging their chances of being hired by making the wrong move.

Being Too Casual with Hiring Managers

As much as the workplace is changing, it isn't changing quite as quickly as perhaps the younger generation wants. So they are often caught up in behaviors that might work well around their friends, but still have a negative connotation in the workplace.

According to an article in the Wall Street Journal there is a growing number of hiring managers who are being turned off by the casual manner of job seekers, and in particular with their messages. Using emoticons or IM text shortcuts in a thank you email communicates not only a lack of maturity, but for many hiring managers it signals poor judgment skills.

Not only is it inappropriate to be overly familiar with recruiters or hiring managers during the interview process - this includes casual dress, unprofessional behaviors, and sloppy posture - it is also considered out of place to text a thank you note or use IM shorthand in a thank you email.

All candidates - regardless of age - should send a formal, professional, and appropriate thank you letter by email or snail mail that briefly thanks the interviewer for his time and reiterates the candidate's fit for the position. In fact a 2007 survey by Accountemps suggests that a thank you letter can boost a job seeker's chances of landing a position by 88 percent. Keep in mind that proper spelling and grammar still count.

Not Having a Proper List of References

If job seekers don't know this by now, then they haven't been paying attention. Most employers are going to ask for job references. These should not be best friends, neighbors or cousins. They should be a list of people that the candidate has actually worked along side either in a subordinate, peer or supervisor capacity.

That being said, when putting together a list of references, job seekers need to be sure to include at least three people and enough contact information so that the potential employer can reach each of the references without issue. This may mean more than one phone number as well as an email address. If employers are unable to reach references, a job offer may never materialize.

A secondary issue that may impact an employer's willingness to present a job offer is when references don't return their calls. For many this may signal that the potential reference does not have anything good to say about the candidate. Therefore, job seekers should contact all references to ensure they will make themselves available and that contact information is current.

Postponing a Decision

For those who are fortunate enough to have more than one potential employment opportunity at the same time, making the right decision and accepting the right offer can be confusing. Therefore, to make sure they don't miss out on the best position some candidates take too long to accept a job offer or dodge the employer's phone call in order to postpone having to make a decision. These moves can result in a lost opportunity as employers get tired of waiting and move on.

Job seekers who are considering several positions need to be very clear about what they want and don't want, as well as which positions fit best with their career plans and advancement. Then they need to be upfront with employers and let them know they are considering more than one position and provide a date by when they will make a decision.

It's important to remember that job hunting does not end just because the interview is over. There are still several steps remaining in the process. And job seekers need to make sure they don't make the wrong move or they may lose out.