05. Not knowing enough about the employer



Chances are you'll have several days to prepare for your interview, so make the most of your time by learning about the company. If it's publicly traded, read the most recent 10-Q filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. If the company is privately held, start with its website. The time before your interview is also the perfect occasion to update your resume, so take the time to weed out all of those references who are currently serving time in a federal correctional institution.

04. Discussing benefits too soon



Just as you should never ask a woman her age, it's also considered to be in bad taste to discuss salary and benefits until you've been offered the job. Bringing up the topic too soon will convince the interviewer that you have little interest in the job beyond a monthly paycheck and your standard two weeks of vacation time.

03. Rushing the Interview



Only a small percentage of candidates ever make it to the interview stage, so try to relax and enjoy the ride. Be prepared to be grilled for up to an hour and avoid glancing at your watch or asking how long the interview will last, since it gives the impression that you're late for a far more important date.

02. Being overly Modest



Modesty may be a virtue, but it won't help you land a job. Your interview is the chance for you to shine, so shelve your humility and highlight your strengths and accomplishments -- just make sure to focus on those accomplishments that are most relevant to the position for which you're applying. After all, the interviewer probably doesn't have to know about your ability to shotgun a dozen beers or the fact that you're the state's largest owner of Michael Bolton memorabilia.

[n] 01. Arriving Late[/n]

 

A job interview isn't a party, so arriving casually late won't score you any points. Make sure to show up 10-15 minutes in advance and notify a receptionist upon your arrival. Getting to your interview early will allow you to familiarize yourself with a foreign environment, and if you're lucky, the waiting room may even have magazines from this decade.