There are lots of articles for what to do during an interview, but few focus on what NOT to do.

Why is this important?  Because while leaving a positive impression during an interview may be hard, leaving a negative impression is easy.  With lots of candidates available, it doesn’t take much to be removed from consideration.

Nationally recognized employment expert Fred Coon,  founder and CEO of Phoenix-based Stewart, Cooper & Coon, a national executive placement and employment services company, has a list of suggestions of what NOT to do during an interview, below are a handful:

  • Don’t insist you don’t have a weakness, or use the trite “I work too hard.” It won’t fly. It makes you look like you lack the ability to self-assess, or that you’re arrogant.
  • Don’t dress contrary to the style of the company. They may be happy with cargo pants and Hawaiian shirts in some places, but most will expect something reflective of their own business. It might be a suit, a sport jacket, or simply a nice shirt and slacks. Fit it.
  • Don’t assume you’re hired. The interviewer may sound enthusiastic, and may drag you around to meet people in the department, show you your office, or whatever, but that may to get others to assess you. It is not a good time to ask about perks, vacation time, salary, or when your first raise is due. This is a time to evaluate if you and the company are a good fit. If the interviewer wants to talk about it, fine, go ahead, but don’t commit to a salary expectation before you’ve done some research so you know what is appropriate.
  • Don’t forget the breath mint! The last thing you want is to drive a wedge between you with an unholy miasma of garlic. Use deodorant, and go lightly on the cologne/perfume, or avoid it altogether, letting the smell of pleasant soap carry the day. Some people are sensitive, or will see you as insensitive to others if you smell like you dunked yourself in a barrel of scent.
  • Don’t lie. It would be a shame to lose a job you really liked, were really good at, and were making great strides in because you claimed to be in consideration for a Nobel Prize. Don’t be an idiot and lie about anything. You might color the truth, a bit, to explain a small work history gap, for example, which won’t hurt anyone. Don’t claim expertise in MS Office and then not be able to turn on a computer. That serves no one.