This might be specifically meant for me, but the idea applies to everyone.

Just a tiny backstory, having both experiences in HR and Recruitment, during an interview I always tell people that I am open to both. Unknowingly this is hurting my chances of landing a job and here is why - HR is different from recruitment, it’s like saying that marketing is different to sales.

Though they may be categorised in the same field, the roles are different. The expertise needed to function as a subject matter expert in HR is different from a recruitment specialist. And so, in my example, when you don’t have a focus on what job you are after this might give the employers the impression that you don’t know what you are applying for very well. This also gives away that you haven’t done your industry research and how each sector operates.

Before I became a recruiter, I said this a lot, and it was just because I was just too lazy to think of a different way to open my sentences.

Don’t do this.

Now that I’ve been involved in the recruitment process, every time I hear this from a candidate, I can’t help but think that the candidate is saying that I haven't read their CV.

In fact, for most of the questions we throw out in the interview, most of them are answerable by your CV, but we ask questions because we want to hear it from you and how well you understood your role fits with the application. There also might be cases where we need you to elaborate further on what is written in your CV.

This depends on the context of how the topic was brought up and how the candidate delivers this message, but generally speaking, job seekers often think that by voluntarily giving this information, they feel that it’s leverage to encourage the employer to move faster or offer you the job right away.

Only employers who are not confident in their ability to find another candidate might fall for these, but by a long shot. If you have been offered a role, you shouldn’t be attending an interview without telling your employer in the first place.  The best way to tell them is before an interview.  

If  an  offer  was  made  on  the  same  day  as  your interview, or during your interview... explain  to  your  interviewer the  situation  and  make  it  clear  that  you  are telling them about the offer as a gesture of courtesy. Make it clear that you are in no way using this information to negotiate.

This can be very tricky to pull off, so if you are unsure please consult with a professional job search coach.

Finally, the top one on my list and the most hated thing that a recruiter wants to hear from a candidate. (Sadly, I said this a few times in the past... but let’s learn from my mistake)

Why is this bad? One of the biggest mistakes an interviewee can make is going into a job interview with no clue as to why they want to work for the company.

Employers are drawn to candidates who can show how their values and goals align with their own. Employers don’t want to hire someone who is just looking to make a quick buck. You want to be motivated and energized to take on a role and this answer just doesn’t demonstrate it.