Agency

David Emin, mediaweek.co.uk, 29 September 2009, 10:38am

Top 10 bloopers to avoid in interviews

Q I worked for a media buying company for 12 years, having joined straight after leaving college. However, due to the economic downturn, I was made redundant just over two months ago. I received quite a good pay-off, which enabled me to spend two months travelling.

David Emin is director of advertising at Mirror

However, I have since returned to the UK and found there are very few vacancies in the world of media. Surprisingly, having sent my CV to a number of agencies, I now have my first job interview coming up next week. Being a little rusty when it comes to interview technique, I was wondering what sort of questions or answers I should avoid in the interview?

A Where do I start? Well, I guess the best thing is to give you my top 10 questions or answers that you should never use in an interview.

1) When the interviewer asks you to tell them a bit about yourself, do not say "I'm a very quiet and secretive person, and that's it really". Always assume you will be asked this question and work out your answer in advance.

2) If it's your first interview for this particular job, do not ask "What is the salary because I have huge debts to pay off". Find out the salary level before you attend the interview.

3) If asked "What do you know about our company?", do not say "Absolutely nothing - why would I?" Learn as much as you can beforehand.

4) If asked "What's your biggest weakness?", do not say "My cocaine habit" or "My gambling addiction". The correct answer is "I am always punctual and do not have as much patience as I should with people who are not as punctual
as me".

5) Do not ask if it is a problem taking unpaid leave - trust me, it is.

6) Do not ask the interviewer if they are single - no matter how attractive they are.

7) Do not start the interview by explaining that you have a stonking hangover because you were out on the piss last night and so you might not be at your best.

8) Turn off your mobile phone. However, if you haven't done so and it goes off, do not say "Do you mind if I get this because it may be important?" Just apologise and turn off your mobile straight away.

9) Do not pass comment on the photographs on the interviewer's desk, no matter how ugly you think the kids are.

10) Do not ask to go to the toilet during the interview.

These might seem obvious, but I've honestly heard them all in interviews over the years - apart from number six.