5 things you're doing that might cost you a job offer

By Aoibhinn Mc Bride

You've prepped your resume, applied for multiple jobs, emerged victorious in the battle against applicant tracking systems designed to weed out unsuitable candidates, have managed to secure an interview and think you answered every question well…

While you might think a job offer is imminent, you could be scuppering your chances at the final hurdle by displaying major red flag behavior during your interview including bad body language or wearing an outfit better suited to working from home.

Red flags
According to a recent survey of hiring managers, 68% said that rude behavior from candidates during an interview, including being late (55%) and wearing something inappropriate (55%), were some of the biggest no-nos.

Additionally, 47% of those who took part in the survey detailed that interviewees who turned up to their interview without researching the company beforehand was a concern, followed by unprofessional body language (44%).

And it doesn't stop there. The hiring managers who participated in the survey also detailed some of the most bizarre interview encounters they've experienced.

"A person came in for an interview half an hour late. He acted excited about the position and said he could start right away. Then he said, I have conditions though. He starts naming all of these things, pizza on Fridays, having off every other Friday [off]. Then he walked out," revealed one hiring manager.

"[A candidate] pretended to get a phone call from another employer offering them more money," shared another.

And even if your employer allows pets in the office, they shouldn't be brought to the interview: "This one time during the interview the candidate brought in their iguana and asked if we would compensate the iguana for being with her at work every day."

Perfecting your interview approach
While getting to your interview on time might seem obvious, if you're relying on public transport or have never traveled to the office space before, it's a good idea to leave yourself lots of spare time or even do a practice run the day before so you're not stressed out on the day.

Another non-negotiable is not speaking badly about your current or previous employers, as interview coach Owen Murray details: "Refraining from negative comments about previous colleagues or employers will demonstrate discretion, but also maturity."

He also advises to instead focus on the positives and detail how you could add to a company's success, and how you align with their values.

That said, professionalism is paramount and while you might think being friendly and casual is a good way to show off your personality, team spirit and stoic nature while under pressure, being too casual could have the opposite effect, as Murray explains.

"In the world of social media, slang and lingo are more common now than ever," he says. "My advice is to stay away from 'TBC, TBH, man and LOL' in an interview situation."

Ready to put all of this advice to the test? Whether you're considering a career change or are actively looking for your next role, the Accounting Today Job Board is the ideal place to focus your search as it features thousands of jobs in companies that are actively hiring, including the three below.

Blackstone Talent Group, an award-winning technology consulting and talent agency in San Jose is seeking an Accountant to join its Client team. In this role you will manage and monitor closing activities across all regions and perform period close procedures in the ERP system and support consolidation. You will also be required to prepare monthly GL entries and reconcile balances for corporate accounting, including debt, loan receivable and investment. Find out more information here.

Elsewhere in California, Netflix is hiring a Senior Accountant to be based out of its Los Angeles office. You will primarily support the animation studio, including expenses, accruals, intercompany transactions, and M&A accounting integration and as such, will need to have a strong understanding of US GAAP, proven experience in scaling processes, and the ability to build strong relationships with cross-functional partners. Interested? Apply here.

For those with experience in payroll, Honeywell is looking for a Payroll Accountant to perform accounting functions for payroll accounting, tax and compliance reporting, and DOE reporting. You will also be required to review and analyze accounting data for compliance with policies, procedures, laws, regulations and DOE/NNSA orders, process employee receivables and related allowances, and reconcile payroll related accounts. Want to know more? Details can be found here.

Ready to put your interview skills to the test? Visit the Accounting Today Job Board to find your next role