So much of the job search is out of your control. The interview is one of the few aspects of the job search you can control. The interview is a selection process for which you can practice and prepare. There are plenty of unusual horror stories committed by job hunters. The following is a laundry list of the most common things that are deal breakers:

1. 1. Arriving late to the interview or arriving too early


2. 2. Showing up with your own beverages


3. 3. Lack of showering, shaving, washing hair, washing face, brushing teeth, cleaning nails, etc.


4. 4. Wearing too much perfume or aftershave; body odor


5. 5. Dressing inappropriately


6. 6. Giving a limp or a bone crushing handshake


7. 7. Slouching or poor posture


8. 8. Nervous mannerisms


9. 9. Taking too many notes


10. 10. Yawning or having inadequate sleep


11. 11. Lacking goals or a career plan


12. 12. Failing to articulate clearly and concisely


13. 13. Speaking too generally without using concrete examples


14. 14. Demonstrating low self-confidence


15. 15. Mediocre educational preparation or accomplishment


16. 16. Being negative, pessimistic or making excuses


17. 17. Unwilling to start at the bottom


18. 18. Lighting up or smelling like you just had a smoke


19. 19. Lying or bragging


20. 20. Forgetting the name of the interviewer


21. 21. Wearing a Bluetooth or using a cell phone


22. 22. Asking no questions, too many questions or unintelligent questions; not answering the question


23. 23. Interrupting the interviewer or failing to listen


24. 24. Missing energy and enthusiasm


25. 25. Focusing too much on salary and benefits


26. 26. Lacking maturity, tact or polish


27. 27. Inability to relate education/education/skills to the job


28. 28. Bad-mouthing former employers


29. 29. Weak eye contact with the interviewer


30. 30. Failing to demonstrate a sincere interest in the job


31. 31. Being indecisive


32. 32. Talking too much or talking too little


33. 33. Over-sharing personal problems or health issues


34. 34. Lacking knowledge about the job, employer or field


35. 35. Announcing radical ideas


36. 36. Failing to sell yourself and impress the interviewer


37. 37. Forgetting to bring extra copies of your resume, references, writing sample and/or portfolio, etc.


38. 38. Forgetting what you wrote on the resume


39. 39. Bringing someone with you to the interview


40. 40. Chewing gum, tobacco, your nails, hair or a pen


41. 41. Taking a seat before the interviewer does


42. 42. Getting defensive, emotional or crying


43. 43. Being rude to the receptionist or anyone else


44. 44. Coming across as too rehearsed or insincere


45. 45. Sounding desperate


46. 46. Watching the clock


47. 47. Taking over the interview


48. 48. Being overly serious or not serious enough


49. 49. Failing to ask for the job


50. 50. Lacking expression of appreciation or gratitude