Good job interviews don't necessarily guarantee you a job as there are a variety of factors that can disqualify you from the position you're interested in applying for.
Those factors are out of your control. Even though you have plenty of experience and skill in a particular field, you may never know why you an employer went with with another applicant.
All you can do is present your best self and hope for the best.
It's also helpful to avoid the common pitfalls that can jeopardize your standing while being under consideration to work for a company.
Curious to hear examples from former job applicants, Redditor OctupleWhopper asked:
"What is the biggest mistake you've made in a job interview?"
These key questions are typically asked at job interviews, and you should be prepared to answer them with aplomb.
Calling B.S.
"I answered a question about my biggest weakness by saying I work too hard—a classic cliché —and it sounded insincere. They knew. I knew. Awkward silence followed. I didn't get the job."
– Ok-Discussion5263
"You should always answer this question by talking about skills you want to improve on. I.e. I work in IT, I say sh*t like 'I haven’t got x certification yet, that’s something I’d like to do'. Employers eat that sh*t up."
– come_ere_duck
Who Are You?
"When I was younger and thinking the 'tell me about yourself' question meant they genuinely cared about your personal life."
– Snowmist92
"I just summarize my education/work experience and why I'm applying."
– Zestyclose-Safe5377
The Stoner
"It was a silly server position, but during the interview, the guy asked, 'Do you smoke?' My nineteen-year-old stoner brain responded, 'Cigarettes? No. ' I didn't get that one."
– Eswercaj
Room For Improvement
"Did not prepare for the 'What are three things you can improve on skill-wise?' question. Job was to work with disabled kids; I said I could improve my patience."
"Not my timeliness, not my communication, not my team building skills… patience. Stupid, stupid, stupid, lol."
– green_dinos
Glowing Review
"Interviewed at a bank. Was going perfectly despite how nervous I was, and I was probably in with a great chance. Then, as a final question, the panel asked me, 'Why should we hire you?' And I word-vomit replied 'Because I probably won't steal your money!'"
"I was not hired."
– Coconutqueen2402
"I was out of work for 6 months and was so fed up with interviews I started not to care anymore. I got asked this exact question, and replied with 'why wouldn't you hire me? Because tbh, I've been to countless interviews and haven't got any callbacks, so any advice would be appreciated because think I am doing something wrong.'"
"She looked a bit taken aback, then said she liked my honesty. Ended up getting the job."
"I really hate questions like this. Wtf are you supposed to reply with besides groveling to them and telling them how much you want the job."
– juxtiver
Sometimes, it's a personality test, and applicants either mutually gel with employers or don't.
The Cinephile
"Went for an interview at a local movie rental store. Completely blanked when I was asked what movies I've watched recently. Ended up throwing out 'Cheech and Chong' after a way too long and awkward delay, then nervously laughed like a stoner."
– Dave220_1
Saying Too Much
"The manager had a picture of a naked moke rat on his desktop, and I said, 'Gross.' He then told me it was his pet."
– Vagitron69
"My weakness is I’m too honest. Do I have the job, you gross f'k?”
– ConferenceHungry7763
"My guy. My dude. Bromano. Did you think he had a picture of a naked mole rat on his desk because he was just a big fan of Kim Possible or something."
"Why else would he have it if it wasn't a pet."
– NinjaBreadManOO
Wrong Decision
"Attending in the first place."
"At the end of an (IMO) productive two-hour interview for a postion I was well-qualified to take, the most arrogant of the three interviewers revealed that the job they would be offering me was actually two levels down from the one for which I had applied ... at a little over half the salary."
"He did so without the least hint of embarrassment, basically indicating the company made a regular habit of deliberately deceiving their prospective hires."
"I didn't say anything; I simply gathered my resumes - quite literally yanking one out of the hand of one interviewer - put them in my portfolio, and walked out."
– theartfulcodger
Intimidation
"I once interviewed to sell an allergy medication (pharma). It was a launch of a twice daily rival to getting allergy shots (which are monthly). Interview was going well and I get asked 'do you have any questions for us?'"
"See - I do homework and when this comes up I ask real questions as I don’t want to get stuck working somewhere I don’t like…"
“So product X is a twice-daily product, costs the patient more than shots, nets the doctor less money per visit, and has about the same efficacy. What is your current strategy or vision in successfully getting this into the market and well adopted?”
"Needless to say the director did not like my question and just said 'well that’s where you’d come in to play.'”
"I wasn’t offered the job. It’s ok because after that answer I didn’t want it anyway."
– solofatty09
Redditors continued sharing anecdotes about their varied job-seeking experience.
A Little Help
"Not exactly a mistake, but I went to the counter of the store and asked if they were hiring. They said they were and gave me an on the spot interview right there in the middle of the store with my mom standing right with me (I was 16 and she had given me a ride to the store)."
"My mom proceeded to answer every question for me and kept talking me up. I ended up getting the job and worked there for over 2 years, so thanks mom lol "
– Magnifying_Charmx
Avoid This
"Went negative and bad-mouthed my current-at-the-time company. Apparently that's a huge no no. You should always make it sound like you want to go to the new company and not escape a bad one."
– islandsimian
Bird Crazy
"My first job interview was a bullsh*t group interview and they were asking a bunch of questions related to pop culture and movies I hadn't seen because at the time I lived a fairly sheltered life."
"They then asked what our favorite animal was and I knew I had to say something to stand out from everyone else so when it came to me I just blurted out Flamingo since I thought that would be a unique animal that no one would think of but didn't think far enough ahead to actually justify why it was my favorite animal and so completely blanked on the follow up question."
"Pretty sure I came across as a raving lunatic."
– BundleOfNeurons
Too Good To Be True
"Accepting the job when they offered it right on the spot. I didn’t know at the time, but that’s usually not a good sign. They’re usually either desperate, or the job just sucks."
– Longjumping_Event_59
All any of us can do when looking for work is leave the negative attitude outside and come in prepared.
As long as you have those two down pat, the rest is about compatibility, and you and the potential employer can mutually see if you're the right fit.
Keep these Redditors' mistakes in mind and stay positive if you're unemployed and seeking work.
You got this.