9 things you must not do at a job interview

If you notice that your job interview ends in 15 minutes, you may have done one of the 9 mistakes listed below. When you arrive at a job interview make sure you are prepared well but also make sure you do not do any of these things:

1. Being late and showing up unprepared The first and biggest mistake you can make in a job interview is to be late. If you are far away and see that time is short, call or send a message to the contact person organising the interview. Apologise for being late and tell them when you expect to be present.
2. Dress inappropriatelyYou will not be taken seriously if you dress inappropriately. Be clean and neat. If you are unsure what to wear, visit the workplace. Stand outside and make note of what people who are coming out are wearing. In this way you get an indication of how they dress. 
3. Lie or bragPeople who lie and brag about themselves, won't make a good impression on an interview panel. If you cannot back up something, don't say it.
4. Do not turn off mobile phoneTo answer your mobile phone in the middle of an interview is committing professional suicide. A tip is not to just put your mobile on silent, but to turn off the vibration as well. It's annoying to hear a mobile vibrate in your bag. 
5. Speak constantly to avoid unpleasant questionsIf you think it's advantageous to talk much at a job interview, you're wrong. Those who will be interviewing you have a plan. If you use the time to do a monologue to avoid unpleasant questions, you won't be allowing the panel to execute their plan or to find out what they need about you. You will not be considered. Remember to breathe and think before you give an answer. If required, ask the panel to repeat the question - this gives you more time to think. If you have a glass of water, take a sip - once more this buys you more time.
6. Answer all questions with a yes or a noIf you do not elaborate on your answers but simply use a yes or a no, the employer won't have the information they need to make their decision. It is your responsibility to give good examples of things you've done before so that those who want to hire you know more when the interview is finished.
7. Do not listen to the questions, but concentrate on what to say about yourselfTurn off the brain activity and listen to what you are asked, and then turn on again. Listen.
8. Speak ill of colleagues and former bossesIf you do this, the interview panel will not view you favourable. They might be concerned you might target them next. While you are allowed to be disgruntled and dissatisfied with previous employers, but do not mention it in a job interview. 
9. Bring parents to the interviewNeed I explain why this is a bad idea? If your parents have to take you to an interview, ask them to sit in the car or ask them to do something else while your interview is on. I have actually experienced this when a candidate brought his mother to an interview. It was not a good look and the panel viewed the candidate as immature and perhaps not ready to take on the role we had on offer.