It should go without saying, but checking your smartphone isn't a smart move during a job interview. In fact, it's the top way to blow your chances with a prospective employer, according to new research by The Creative Group.
More than three-quarters (77 percent) of advertising and marketing executives surveyed said it's likely they'd remove a candidate from consideration if the person used his or her phone during the interview.
The national study was developed by The Creative Group, a specialized staffing service for interactive, design, marketing, advertising and public relations professionals. It was conducted by an independent research firm and is based on 400 telephone interviews -- 200 with advertising executives randomly selected from agencies with 20 or more employees and 200 with marketing executives randomly selected from companies with 100 or more employees.
Advertising and marketing executives were asked, "When interviewing candidates for creative roles, which of the following do you consider to be a deal breaker (something a candidate says or does that will likely cause you to immediately discount that person from consideration)?"
Their responses:
Checking or answering the phone during the interview | 77% |
Showing up late without acknowledging it | 70% |
Not bringing items that were requested (e.g., resume, portfolio, references) | 70% |
Wearing improper interview attire | 69% |
Speaking poorly of a past job or employer | 62% |
Note: Multiple responses permitted. Top responses shown. |
"Hiring managers typically assume candidates are putting their best foot forward during job interviews, so any sign of unprofessional or unproductive behavior makes a big impact, no matter how qualified the person may be for the position," said Diane Domeyer, executive director of The Creative Group. "Job seekers should do everything they can to tip the scales in their favor, including paying attention to the smallest details."
The Creative Group offers tips to avoid the top five missteps that can ruin a job interview:
About The Creative Group
The Creative Group (TCG) specializes in placing a range of highly skilled interactive, design, marketing, advertising and public relations professionals with a variety of firms on a project and full-time basis. More information, including online job-hunting services, candidate portfolios and TCG's blog, can be found at creativegroup.com.