Six Factors That Can Cost You the Interview/Job

Most job seekers know that an unprofessional appearance will count against them at an interview. Here are six MORE factors that can help you remain in the unemployment line:

(1) Being unprepared for the interview. Prepare, plan, and practice! In today's tough job market, you MUST do everything you can to give yourself an edge... preparation is the key.

(2) Not being able to communicate clearly and effectively. This is important during the interview and on the job. Being nervous can really mess up your communication skills, so being well prepared and practicing what you're going to say are always your best bet.

(3) Being aggressive, arrogant, or acting in a superior way. No one wants to hire or work with people who think they're better than everyone else. Be careful with your attitude, even if you think you're surrounded by incompetent fools. Being confident is good. Being an arrogant jerk is bad.

(4) Making excuses for failings. Your teacher never bought "The dog ate my homework!" and your boss isn't going to buy "The finance department gave me the wrong figures!" In the grown-up world, you have to take responsibility for what you are responsible for! You'll never earn respect by blaming others when things go wrong.

(5) Saying unfavorable things about previous employers. Even if you left a job because the boss was an egomaniac who took credit for all of your hard work, verbally abused you in front of others, and poisoned the plant on your desk, don't say anything bad about him/her during an interview. When asked "Why did you leave your last job?" say something like "My manager and I both agreed that my advancement opportunities were limited there and obtaining another position was the best option for me and my career goals."

(6) Having a poor/limp handshake. Why do people think you'll be a lousy employee if you have a lousy handshake? That's not really logical, is it? Doesn't matter. It just turns people off and gives them a bad impression of you. So make your handshake firm and confident but not bone-crushing. (It's not a competition to see who winces first!)

If you DON'T want to be unemployed, don't let any of those traits apply to you!

Bonnie Lowe is author of the popular Job Interview Success System and free information-packed ezine, "Career-Life Times." Find those and other powerful career-building resources and tips at her website: http://www.best-interview-strategies.com.

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Google News Updated : Fri, 25 Jul 2008 06:52:22 GMT 20 Questions for Steve Ballmer - PC Magazine 20 Questions for Steve Ballmer PC Magazine - Jul 22, 2008 Microsoft's CEO faces a tough test this week as he prepares to face financial analysts. Before he gets to their questions, here are some of my own. Publ.Date : Wed, 23 Jul 2008 04:03:44 GMT News in Brief - Ha'aretz News in Brief Ha'aretz - 7 hours ago Israeli and Syrian officials will meet for a fourth Turkish-brokered round of talks in Turkey early next week, Saudi newspaper Al-Watan reported yesterday, citing diplomatic sources in Damascus. Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:49:05 GMT US Expands Visa Program for Iraqi Allies - New York Times Earthtimes (press release) US Expands Visa Program for Iraqi Allies New York Times - 58 minutes ago By ALISSA J. RUBIN BAGHDAD - The American Embassy in Baghdad announced Thursday that it had expanded tenfold its program to help Iraqi employees of the American government here, who faced threats for their work, to obtain visas and ultimately ... US Can't Keep Up On Visas for Iraqis Washington Post US unveils Iraqi visa program Middle East Times MLive.com all 108 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 25 Jul 2008 05:53:41 GMT Diversity in news media could falter - USA Today Diversity in news media could falter USA Today - 5 hours ago By Edward Iwata, USA TODAY CHICAGO - As the economy sputters and media companies slash jobs, diversity in US newsrooms is likely to suffer, minority journalism leaders here said Thursday. Plenary Session at UNITY '08 on Globalization at 9:00 AM in ... MarketWatch McCain ignores 5000 journalists Chicago Sun-Times Editor & Publisher - Broadcasting & Cable - Chicago Defender - MarketWatch all 29 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:54:41 GMT Stricter criteria for the state's graduates? - Seattle Post Intelligencer Stricter criteria for the state's graduates? Seattle Post Intelligencer - 1 hour ago By JESSICA BLANCHARD New rules adopted Thursday by the Washington State Board of Education would strengthen high school graduation requirements by 2016 -- but they may not come to fruition unless the state Legislature provides more money for public ... Proposals would raise standards for education grants Houston Chronicle State board votes to boost high school graduation requirements TheNewsTribune.com Dallas Morning News - The Columbian - Houston Chronicle all 26 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 25 Jul 2008 04:56:48 GMT 4 Spitzer appointees accused of ethics violations - The Associated Press New York Daily News 4 Spitzer appointees accused of ethics violations The Associated Press - 8 hours ago ALBANY, NY (AP) - Three former aides to ex-Gov. Eliot Spitzer and the former head of the state police were charged with ethics violations Thursday over travel records released to discredit a political rival, a scandal that consumed Spitzer's ... Spitzer Adminsitration Broke Law with "Travelgate" WNYC No Charges For Spitzer In "Choppergate" Scandal NY1 WXXA - WNBC - WENY-TV - North Country Gazette all 252 news articles Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:41:09 GMT Heavyweights to Lobby for More Biofuel - Washington Post Washington Times Heavyweights to Lobby for More Biofuel Washington Post - 1 hour ago A group of the world's biggest agribusiness companies announced it will use lobbyists on Capitol Hill and national ads to build the case for fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel, even as grain prices climb worldwide. Agribusiness Group Forms To Protect Ethanol Subsidies Wall Street Journal Agribusinesses join forces to combat ethanol critics Chicago Daily Herald Reuters - CNNMoney.com - International Herald Tribune - Feedstuffs all 53 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 25 Jul 2008 05:46:07 GMT Web Site Traffic Blogging Software

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