Four in ten workers (40.3 per cent) have made a huge mistake in an interview, with 8 per cent stating that they had to walk out after things went wrong, according to new research by CV-Library.
The study of 1,200 UK workers reveals some of the worst things that people have done in an interview, including 31.7 per cent arriving unprepared and 8.2 per cent arriving late to their interviews.
A few people (7.2 per cent) managed to confuse the job roles and their potential new employers and 5.7 per cent even admit to calling the interviewer by the wrong name.
Lee Biggins, founder and managing director of CV-Library comments, ‘Interview nerves can get the best of anyone, no matter how prepared you are. This often results in silly mistakes being made that wouldn’t ordinarily happen in another situation.’
Biggins says the secret to avoiding interview horrors is to put plenty of practice in beforehand with friends and family and remember to breathe, keep a calm head and rationalise your fears.
He adds, ‘It’s clear from our research that interview horrors are commonplace across the UK so don’t beat yourself up about it. Remember, you wouldn’t have been asked in for an interview if the company wasn’t interested in you and your CV, so believe in yourself and try not to let your nerves get the better of you.’
The research also encouraged respondents to write in some of their biggest blunders and CV-Library has pulled out the best 20 interview shockers this Halloween.
Dan from Guildford: ‘I arrived for what I thought was a driving job, but it was actually for a diving job – which I wasn’t even qualified for.’
Chantelle from London: ‘My hair once turned green before an interview and I didn’t have time to sort it out: cue going into the interview looking like an idiot! I then proceeded to waffle on to the interviewers all about what had happened, totally forgetting where I was and who I was talking to!’
Andrew from Inverness: ‘It was January, in the North of Scotland and my car had broken down, meaning I had to travel about 50 miles by motorbike, in a suit. When I arrived for the interview I was soaking wet, freezing and unable to talk for a good thirty minutes! All I wanted to do was hug the radiator.’
Laura from Newport: ‘My biggest interview horror was when I applied for two jobs on complete different ends of the spectrum and turned up to one job interview thinking it was for the other job! I completely embarrassed myself, however the interviewer was impressed with my enthusiasm despite making a complete fool of myself!’
Jack from Chester: ‘I tripped and fell over as I entered the interview.’
Natasha from Doncaster: ‘When asked why I wanted the job my mind went blank and I just giggled. I couldn’t stop and before I knew it I was crying with laughter. I had to be offered a glass of water to calm down.’
Further reading on conducting interviews
