Five Stupid Moves in an Interview for the Job Seeker

1. Being improperly dressed: While an applicant doesn't want to wear a three-piece suit to a job interview, they should still dress just up of what they expect to be wearing on a job. Newer jeans might be acceptable, but not advised, even if there are no holes, tears, or fades. Conservative denim might work, but try going with something non-denim, first.

2. Asking about the pay first: The first two questions an applicant can ask might be anything other than pay. When bringing up pay, do it with an "Oh, by the way," and take note of all the details, and cycles and such. But, by no means, ask about pay first. It's just crude.

3. Being late: Not showing up by an appointment made, is this first promise to break. If tardiness is truly unavoidable, catch up with the date-keeper with a phone call. Cell phones exist now. We have no excuse.

4. Over-selling themselves or over-talking your positives: While it's understood a job-seeker wants the work, over-promising what can be achieved could be something to bite the applicant in the backside again, later. Sometimes applicants will promise themselves to a prospective employer, right out of pre-existing obligations.

Over-talking one's positives will give away more information than needed. Sometimes, a prospect might even completely talk themselves right out of an opportunity. Great thinkers in times past have even recommended that "less is more" applies when it comes to the verb-age count of your replies.

5. Not asking for what you really want, and then negotiating. In the part of an application which asks for wages desired, it's asking for wages desired, not expected. Ask for what is the pay rate really wanted.

Go for a $15 per hour rate desired. Ask for $25 per hour. When asked why so confident/expensive say these three words "I'm worth it," with a straight face. The odds are against you anyway. Say something about being worth it.

Most people put "minimum," there. That just tells an employer everything you don't want them to know about you. At least give the future possible boss an image of someone who understands they're here to make money.

Source:
Personal experience