- The impression you make in a job interview can make or break your chances of getting the role.
- Just as candidates watch for red flags in potential employers, hiring teams look for red flags in candidates.
- Recruiting pros told BI the red flags they watch for, from lateness to AI-generated cover letters.
You might have your own “red flags” you look for when job-searching that signal when to steer clear of a particular role or employer.
Well, the red flags go both ways: Recruiters and hiring managers have their own telltale signs they watch out for in job applicants that can sour their feelings on a candidate.
BI spoke with a handful of recruiting professionals to learn the red flags applicants can exhibit that hurt their chances of landing the job.
Being late
The first impression you make can begin to form before even saying a word. That includes how you arrive for an interview.
“It may seem like a no-brainer, but showing up late can count against you in the process,” says Marissa Morrison, VP of People at ZipRecruiter.
“Arriving 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 type of mistake that could cost you the job.”
Using AI-generated application materials
Amri Celeste, a recruitment manager and interview coach, says cover letters clearly written with AI are “becoming more and more common.” She said that they’ve been crossing her desk every week recently — some still including the prompt an applicant used to create them.
AI-generated cover letters “do candidates a disservice,” she says.
“It stops me from assessing their ability to communicate effectively, which is critical for roles requiring strong writing skills, and makes it harder to shortlist candidates effectively, and then give updates and feedback quickly.”
Omitting a cover letter
The debate over whether or not to write a cover letter rages on, but there’s a clear answer for Andrew Fennell, a former corporate recruiter and the founder of the résumé-builder website StandOut CV.
“Over the years I’ve found that people who can’t be bothered to do that don’t usually have great work ethic,” he said. “It doesn’t have to be an A4 essay, just something brief in their email to show that they’ve read the job advert and explain why they think they would be a good fit for the job.”
On the flip side, applicants who submit a well-tailored cover letter “will always stand out and ensure that I read their résumé,” he said.
Being unwilling to relocate
Kyle Samuels spent 20 years in senior-level executive recruiting and now leads executive search agency Creative Talent Endeavors.
He makes a mental note of applicants who dodge the question of whether they’re willing to relocate for a position, as he said that shows they may not be “extremely serious about a role.”
Badmouthing previous employers or colleagues
Be careful how you speak about former jobs and colleagues.
“Speaking negatively about previous or current employers or team members and pushing the blame on 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 roles.
Lying
Lying in an interview can get you in some pretty hot water and tank your chances of getting the position.
“Don’t ever lie” in an interview, says Tessa White, a former head of HR and the CEO of The Job Doctor and author of “The Unspoken Truths for Career Success.”
“You’d be surprised how much goodwill you get from your interviewer when you give authentic insight into your career growth and you 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 are interviewing for, what the company does, and how your skills apply to this position.”
Be prepared with details and specifics about your role in projects or deliverables.
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