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More than 70 per cent of employees rank a job clinching interview as one of the most dreaded experiences of their adult lives.
In a survey by recruitment company Office Angels, it was rated higher than meeting a partner’s parents (16 per cent) or a wisdom tooth extraction (13 per cent).
The survey of 1,500 office workers reveals that while nearly everyone (97 per cent) worries about committing an interview faux pas, more than a third (36 per cent) believe they have lost out on a dream job because of a basic interview blunder that could have been easily avoided.
According to the survey, the top five interview faux pas are:
1. Arriving late due to getting lost en route (57 per cent)
2. Being caught out on CV lies (41 per cent)
3. Calling the interviewer by the wrong name or mistaking the interviewer for a secretary/receptionist (32 per cent)
4. Getting the dress code completely wrong (28 per cent)
5. Implying that it’s not your ideal job (19 per cent)
Paul Jacobs, managing director of Office Angels, said: “Interviews are a tense period of time loaded with expectation. The important point to bear in mind is not to let nerves or ill-preparation result in a blunder on the day. Interviews are by their nature challenging - so it’s best to make sure you’re as prepared as possible."
