- The impression you make in a job interview can make or break your chances of landing the role.
- Just as candidates watch for red flags in potential employers, hiring teams look for red flags in candidates.
- Recruiting professionals told BI the red flags they observe, from lateness to AI-generated cover letters.
You may have your own “red flags” that you look for when looking for work that signal when you should walk away from a particular role or employer.
Well, the red flags go both ways: Recruiters and hiring managers have their own telltale signs that they care about job applicants, which can cloud their feelings toward a candidate.
BI spoke to a handful of recruiting professionals to learn the red flags applicants may exhibit that hurt their chances of landing the job.
Being late
The first impression you make can begin to form before you even say a word. This includes how you arrive for an interview.
“It may seem like a strange thing, but showing up late can work against you in the process,” says Marissa Morrison, VP of People at ZipRecruiter.
“Getting to your interview on time shows respect for the hiring manager’s time while reiterating your interest in the role,” she added. “During the interview process, you want to present your best self. This is the kind of mistake that could cost you the job.”
Use of AI-generated application materials
Amri Celestea recruiting manager and interview coach, says that clearly written cover letters with AI are “becoming more and more common.” She said they’ve crossed her desk every week recently — some still include the application an applicant used to create them.
AI-generated cover letters “do a disservice to candidates,” she says.
“It stops me from assessing their ability to communicate effectively, which is critical for roles that require strong writing skills, and makes it harder to rank candidates effectively and then provide updates and feedback quickly.”
Removal of a cover letter
The debate over whether or not to write a cover letter continues, but there’s a clear answer for Andrew Fennell, a former corporate recruiter and founder of the resume builder website Outstanding CV.
“I’ve found over the years that people who can’t be bothered to do that usually don’t have a great work ethic,” he said. “It doesn’t have to be an A4 essay, just something short in their email to show they’ve read the job advert and explain why they think they’d be suitable for the job.”
On the other hand, applicants who submit a well-tailored cover letter “will always stand out and make sure I read their resume,” he said.
Not being willing to move
Kyle Samuels spent 20 years in high-level executive recruitment and now runs the executive search agency Efforts of creative talents.
He makes a mental note of applicants who avoid being asked if they’re willing to relocate for a position, as he says it shows they may not be “extremely serious about a role.”
Bad mouthing about previous employers or colleagues
Be careful how you talk about previous jobs and colleagues.
“Talking negatively about former or current employers or team members and blaming others” is a big red flag for Lauren Monroe, who leads the creative practice group at Aquent, a staffing agency for creative, marketing and design the roles.
Lies
Lying in an interview can land you in pretty hot water and increase your chances of getting the position.
“Never lie” in an interview, says Tessa White, a former head of HR and CEO of Doctor of work and author of The Untold Truths About Career Success.
“You’ll be surprised how much goodwill you get from your interviewer when you provide authentic insight into your career growth and can talk honestly about what you’ve learned along the way,” she said.
Being unprepared
“You should never walk into an interview without doing your research,” says Amy Garefis, chief people officer at ZipRecruiter. “Make sure you understand the role you’re interviewing for, what the company does, and how your skills apply to the position.”
Be prepared with details and specifics about your role in projects or deliverables.
