If you are responsible for interviewing prospective employees for your organization, you may have encountered a few candidates who left you bewildered, or saying to yourself “was this person really serious or just playing a cruel joke on me”? If you have been on the other side as a candidate interviewing for a position, you’ve probably studied subjects such as creating a winning resume, effective interview questions, and proper interview etiquette. But as we’ve all heard, “common sense is sometimes not all that common”.

In today’s competitive healthcare job market, it leaves me baffled that some job seekers do not have the basic common sense or courtesy to properly prepare for an interview. As a healthcare recruiting professional, we endure hours of training on how to coach and prepare candidates for an interview, including sending them written instructions on what and what NOT to do. But….

For those of you wondering if this is true… Unfortunately, yes, these things have actually happened!

As a job seeker, you should never…

1.  Ask "So, how much does this job pay"?
You should always allow the interviewer to bring up the subject of pay. Let them know that you are flexible with your financial package as long as it is competitive. Perceived greediness will kill an interview faster than anything!

2.  Wear a tank top to an interview because you feel "they should like me for who I am!"
Always dress in professional attire for an interview.  As a general rule of thumb, it's always best to over dress than to under dress. Dress for the job that you want, not the job that you have!

3.  Ask for a chance to get something that you've forgotten in your car, and then never go back to the interview.
Whatever the reason, always finish an interview. If nothing else, it at least gives you some good practice for the next one!

4.  Travel a thousand miles to an interview, go out on the town the night before, get arrested for a DWI, and miss your interview!
You always want to be your best on an interview. Start by preparing the night before, planning out your day and getting a good night's sleep. Never go celebrate before you actually get the job!

5. Ask the interview, "How soon can I take a paid vacation"?
Many times you will be informed of the company's compensation, benefits and paid time off policies at some point during the interview process. You never want to give the impression that it's all about you!

6.  Inform the interviewer that you are on so much medication that sometimes you sleep through your alarm and pager.
Don't get me wrong, it is always best to be honest, but you never want to give out too much information during an interview!

7.  Say, "I think that I should really be interviewing with your boss."
Always be respectful of the person interviewing you. They are doing so for a reason and you will not get to their boss being arrogant!

8.  Answer your cell phone at any point during an interview.
Turn off your phone for the interview. Is this concept so difficult to understand? For many job seekers, I guess it is. Cell phones are very distracting and it is very rude to answer a call on an interview. Leave your phone in the car!

9.  Ask, "So when exactly do I need to take a drug test?"
Drug testing and background checks are common in pre-employment. Don't give your prospective new employer the wrong impression!

10.  Tell the interviewer that you are leaving your current position because your boss is a JERK!
Even if your boss is a jerk, never say that to your potential new employer. Keep it professional and be respectful, because this shows that you are respectful and professional. Never bad mouth your employer!

In the end, a bad interview costs everyone time and money.  For managers in healthcare, it may even take them away from direct patient care causing delays and affecting Patient Satisfaction Scores.

Written by Bridgette Dipboye, PHR, Director of Marketing & Research at RadSciences Group www.radsciences.com.  You can contact Bridgette at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it -or- 800-804-2345