ATHENS, Greece, April 9 /PRNewswire/ --

What is the most unusual thing a candidate did in a job interview? Fall
asleep? Disappear? Ask the interviewer on a date? Kariera.gr released its
survey of the most outrageous interview mistakes candidates have made,
according to hiring managers and HR professionals across Greece. This year's
Top Ten list includes:

-- Candidate asked interviewer how long the interview would take because   
       the soccer team he supports was playing and the game was on TV.
    -- Candidate told interviewer that he would stay with the company until 
       he could find something better.
    -- Candidate brought his mother to the interview.
    -- Candidate stated that he did not have any hobbies or interests at all.
    -- Candidate talked on his cell phone during the interview.
    -- When asked, candidate couldn't recall where he was trained.
    -- Candidate tried to set rules for the interview.
    -- Candidate swore throughout the interview.
    -- Candidate shared secrets from his previous job, which were 
       confidential.
    -- Candidate wanted to work four hours per day instead of eight, but 
       still wanted to be paid the same wage.

In addition to the most unusual blunders, employers were also asked about
the most common and detrimental mistakes candidates have made during an
interview. Seventy-three percent of hiring managers cited appearing
disinterested as the most detrimental mistake a candidate can make in an
interview. Appearing arrogant came in second at 54 percent and speaking
negatively about a current or previous employer ranked third at 46 percent.
Other mistakes included not asking good questions (33 percent), dressing
inappropriately (31 percent) and not providing specific answers (26 percent).

"Interviews give employers an opportunity to see what it is really like
to work with a candidate -- how they react under pressure, what motivates
them and how they interact with others," said Theofilos Vasileiadis, Managing
Director of Kariera.gr. "If a candidate is overly negative, is not prepared
for the interview or is easily flustered, it can send up a red flag for an
employer. Be knowledgeable about the company, practice answers to potential
questions and always maintain a professional manner."

Kariera.gr offers the following tips for successful interviews:

-- Do your homework: Nothing says "I am not that interested in this job" 
       like someone who has done no research and knows little about a 
       company.  It is easier than ever to find information about a company 
       and its activities -- candidates who don't could be perceived as lazy, 
       unmotivated or disinterested.
    -- Don't get too personal: The last thing an employer wants to do is to 
       hire someone who brings personal drama to the office.  Even if the 
       interview seems casual, always keep it professional and avoid sharing 
       unnecessary personal information.  
    -- Be honest: Interviewers don't expect you to have all the answers.  
       Often they are testing your reaction to "tough questions" to see how 
       you respond under pressure.  It is much worse to get caught in a lie 
       than to admit you do not know something.  If you are unsure of an 
       answer, it is ok to say you don't know but then outline the steps you 
       would take to find out -- this will demonstrate you are a problem 
       solver.  
    -- Prepare for these common open-ended questions: "Tell me about 
       yourself?"  Why do you want to work here?"  "What motivates you?" 
       These questions may seem easy, but because they are so broad, 
       candidates can get tripped up by them if they don't know where to 
       start or when to end.  
    -- Do not be negative: No matter how tempting it is to share woes from 
       prior jobs or how much an interviewer is pushing you to do so, it is 
       never a good idea to say negative things about a previous employer.  
       The interviewer will assume you will also be likely to bad mouth their 
       company in the future.



Survey Methodology

This survey was conducted online within Greece by Harris Interactive on
behalf of Kariera.gr among 143 hiring managers and human resource
professionals (employed full-time; not self-employed; with at least
significant involvement in hiring decisions;) within Greece between
November 27 and December 28, 2007, respectively. Figures for age, sex,
race/ethnicity, education, region and household income were weighted where
necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the
population. The data have been weighted to reflect the composition of Greek
employers.

About Kariera.gr

Kariera.gr is the leading job site in Greece. It began to operate in
February 2000 and has become the largest and most renowned job site in Greece
with over 8.000 unique visitors per day and more than 136.000 registered
members (jobseekers) and 17.000 registered employers (companies, educational
institutions).

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    Corporate Communications Manager
    CareerBuilder.com
    Experience Better | People, Process, Solutions
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