19 interview mistakes young people make that cost them good jobs

A job interview is a very small window of time in which we try to get to know you. Who are you, what are you good at, and what do you want to do with your life? We want a quick, clear history of your life and career so far. At Business Insider storytelling is literally what we do, but at any company communications are key. If you cannot communicate who you are quickly, you're not getting the job.

Tip: Write it down beforehand and rehearse with a friend.

We do not expect you to be a cheerleader. But if we hire you, we're going to be spending a lot of time together, so we don't want you killing the buzz.

Tip: Just be nice. Smile.

Sure, we're interested in hiring you. But that doesn't mean you're a rock star, and our company won't collapse without you.

Tip: Just because you got the interview doesn't mean you got the job. You still have to sell us.

If you're interviewing for a job that requires you to stay abreast of the technology industry, obviously we're going to ask you what you think is so interesting about tech. So if you're answer is ...

"Er ... "

Then we're going to be less than impressed.

Tip: Prepare! Literally write some speaking points on a notepad before you arrive at the interview. It will help you in case you freeze.

We hate downloading email attachments because of the malware risk they pose. If you only use text and links in your application email, we can see your stuff on our phones as well as on our laptops.

Tip: Your CV or resume is best displayed as a LinkedIn URL. Examples of your work are most easily seen if they come as links within the email.

We get it. You're young and cool. And we love The Ramones, too.

Tip: Make us feel as if you're a safe bet by wearing a shirt and tie (men) or go conservative but stylish (women). One candidate impressed us by wearing a shirt and tie to a Google Hangout video interview.

We often use Skype and Google Hangout. A video interview may feel casual, but you need to prepare: In the background, we can see the dishes piled in your sink or the laundry hanging off your bedroom door.

One candidate interrupted her conversation with us when her cat jumped out of an open window. (We hired this person anyway.)

Tip: Take a screengrab of what your laptop can see so you can tidy your room before the interview starts.

We get that you're trying to make sure you aren't wasting anyone's time. But asking salary questions early marks you as a rookie.

Tip: Remember that this is a process: The further you get through the process, the more it shows we want to hire you, and the stronger your negotiating position eventually becomes.

If you're using those personal email accounts to apply for jobs, then we also see Mr. Snuffaluffagus the adorable terrier when you send us your CV/resume.

Tip: Send test messages to a friend who will let you see how all your email/social accounts appear to others, and sanitize accordingly.

When we reject a good candidate it's usually because we never received an email follow-up. We want to recruit people who really want to work here, and a simple "thank you" note checks a big box for us.

Tip: This needn't be a big production. Just a single sentence offering to answer any further questions is all it takes.

Young candidates pad their CVs with fluffy, cliched career goal statements.

Do not do this!

Tip: We want to see only a simple list of your education and work experiences, and maybe a list of other useful skills at the bottom.

We're looking for people who seem reliable and trustworthy. We're not looking for weirdos who want to blow our minds. One job application began, "I am a chameleon ..." It went downhill from there.

Tip: We want to be able to trust you. So behave and communicate in a way that feels reliable and trustworthy.

We need resumes to be sent easily via email to other HR staff, and we may want to print them out so we can compare candidates side by side. Off-format CVs are useless for this.

Tip: Your best bet? LinkedIn.

We can't emphasize this enough: When you have to compare hundreds of CVs, LinkedIn is really useful because it makes all candidates' resumes look the same — and that makes it easier for us to figure out who is relevant and who isn't.

Tip: A LinkedIn URL in an email is a lot easier for us to deal with than a Word or PDF attachment.

If you're discussing a potential job with an employer over "coffee," don't break out one of Starbucks' "Sure As Eggs Is Eggs" sandwiches; it's distracting.

Tip: Drink coffee or tea or water or nothing, if offered.

Demonstrating the correct level of "energy" during a job interview is a tough call: You want to demonstrate that you're a low-drama person but not a monosyllabic introvert; you're happy to be here, but we don't want you bouncing off the walls like a crazy person.

Tip: If we can see you're excited at the idea of working for us, we're more likely to get excited about the idea of giving you a job.

Beards and mustaches are fashionable on men right now, and many guys brought them along on their job interviews. But what looks good at a 19th century bare-knuckle boxing match is sometimes not so great when you're up close and personal with a prospective employer.

Tip: If you're rocking facial hair, make sure it is impeccably groomed.

Don't worry about your CV not looking full enough — that's OK. We don't have a lot of time to figure out what your job history is.

Tip: Less is more with resumes — we skim them for only about 30 seconds anyway.

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