Top 10 things NOT to do in an interview

10 very small, but very significant acts that could stand between you and your next job.

Showing up late, forgetting a copy of your resume, having a bad hair day…these are all reasons you might not feel as confident as you'd like to when you're in your next job interview, but they're not immediate disqualifiers. According to employers, the top most detrimental blunders candidates make in interviews are often the most common.

Have you made any of these mistakes? Here are the top 10 things NOT to do in your next job interview.

1. Appear disinterested
Fifty-five percent of hiring managers say this is a big deal-breaker in an interview, and we can't blame them for saying this is the No. 1 thing you should not do in an interview. If you're this bored in an interview, how will you act on the job? Employers want somebody who will bring energy and focus to their team, and will engage with the job. Acting disinterested, or failing to show enthusiasm for the opportunity, only signals to employers that you're not interested in this job—and they'll find a candidate instead who is.
2. Dress inappropriately
Wearing clothes that are too tight or too loose, too dressy or too casual, or wearing brands and logos in professional settings is a bad sign, according to 53 percent of hiring managers. But before you accuse your interviewer of playing fashion police instead of interviewing you about your skills, remember why they even care about your appearance: They're evaluating your judgment and how you'd appear to customers. Do you show you can fit in with company culture? Are you there to bring professionalism to the organization? Dress the part.
3. Appear arrogant
This turn-off bothers 53 percent of hiring managers, who would rather hear about your accomplishments in the context of how you helped the organization, compared to a list of bragging rights. Frame your big wins in the company's overall success: your impressive sales numbers attributed to the company's biggest year in earnings, for example.
4. Talk negatively about current or previous employers
Half of hiring managers (50 percent) said this is a red flag when meeting with potential hires. No surprise there. Why would they want to be your new employer when your old employer is taking all the blame for your career's negatives? If there's bad blood between you and an old employer or workplace, simply state a difference in personalities or work culture, and emphasize that this organization and you are a much better fit for both your strengths and weaknesses.
5. Answer a cell phone or text during the interview
About equally as rude as speaking negatively about old employers is checking or using your phone, according to 49 percent of hiring managers surveyed. This is a simple fix. Do NOT use your phone at all during the interview, as it's rude and discourteous to your interviewer's time. Turn it off (or on silent if you must have it on) before you enter the building or get on the phone or webcam for your in-person or digital interview. Either way, you should not be using your phone at all during an interview.
6. Appear uninformed about the company or role
You may think you can fake it till you make it, but 39 percent of hiring managers will disagree with your strategy if you appear uninformed about the company or the role you're interviewing for. Before your interview, research every aspect: who you'll be interviewing with, what the role's responsibilities are, any major news about the organization and a background knowledge of its industry.
7. Avoid providing specific examples
Thirty-three percent of hiring managers say this is a problem, since they want to hear exactly how you demonstrate your qualities of being a "hard-working, energetic, driven team-player." Did you implement a new employee engagement perk or group? Did you earn recognition or awards for your achievements? Get specific when you're explaining your strengths and achievements.
8. Ask generic questions (or none at all)
Similar to being ignorant to what the organization or role does, asking generic questions (or none at all) signals to the interviewer you probably don't understand or aren't interested in the job—which is a problem according to 32 percent of hiring managers. Demonstrate your knowledge by asking specific questions about on-the-job duties, as well as any questions you may have about the organization or style of management.
9. Provide too much personal information
Oversharing is something to avoid, according to 20 percent of hiring managers. You don't need to go into detail about personal hobbies or family anecdotes in an interview. Simply be yourself and let your personality and confidence speak for themselves.
10. Ask the hiring manager personal questions
About as bad as oversharing is over-asking, according to 17 percent of hiring managers. Asking the hiring manager personal questions doesn't establish a connection between you two—it just makes your interviewer uncomfortable and show you don't have a good sense of business manners. When in doubt, err on the side of caution and professionalism.
Avoiding these 10 pitfalls can put you on a much more successful trajectory towards having a successful interview and potential job offer.

Working from Home is More Common Than You Think

Here's who does it, and where.

Business Insider

By Hope Restle

The ability to turn in your work from the comfort of your couch might sound like a dream — and increasingly so, this dream is becoming a reality for professionals all over the United States.

According to a new infographic from Highfive, there was a 79.7% increase in the number of remote workers between 2005 and 2012.

The Highfive graphic paints a clear picture of what working remotely looks like in the US today. It reveals which industries commonly hire remote workers, where these professionals live, and how much they make, on average.

It also shows how both employees and employers are benefiting from this shift.

About 77% of remote workers reported greater productivity while working from home, and 53% were less stressed. Remote workers also reported better health, and a willingness to work longer hours.

Check out the graphic below for more stats and facts about working outside the office:

      

7 Psychological Traps That Can Undermine Your Success

Are you your own worst enemy?

Business Insider

By Shana Lebowitz

There are plenty of external factors that can hold you back from success at work — from a dismal economy to backstabbing coworkers.

But when it comes to professional achievement, you can easily be your own worst enemy. By keeping quiet in meetings when you've got a different opinion or toiling over a project report past midnight, you may actually be acting against your own interest.

Here, we've listed seven ways people sabotage their own career success, often without even realizing it.

1. Conforming to the majority opinion
In the 1950s, psychologist Solomon Asch conducted a brilliant study that found people tended to agree with the majority, even when it was obvious the majority was wrong.

In the experiment, participants were asked to indicate which of three lines was longest. They were surrounded by confederates who all reported that one of the shorter lines was longer. Sure enough, most participants agreed with the confederates.

The lesson here is to be wary of the very human tendency to conform to the group's opinion. When you're in a meeting at work and it seems like most people have got the wrong answer to a problem, consider voicing your opinion instead of assuming you must be delusional.

2. Believing negative stereotypes
Stereotype threat occurs when people think about negative associations with their gender or race and subsequently perform worse on whatever task they're working on.

In the workplace, research suggests that managers who feel subject to racial stereotypes may be less likely to seek feedback, which can hurt their achievement in the long run. Similarly, women primed to think about negative gender stereotypes performed worse in negotiations than women who weren't primed.

To be fair, this isn't just an illusion — in some cases, employees may very well be the victims of stereotypes. Researchers say one way to combat the harmful effects of stereotype threat is for leaders to teach negatively stereotyped employees to actively think about their most valuable qualities.

3. Needing to produce flawless work
Perfectionism might sound like a positive attribute — but in reality, it can sabotage your chances of success. According to Alice Boyes, Ph.D., perfectionists often use up all their willpower until they're psychologically and emotionally exhausted. Then it's hard for them to continue working on a task.

If you notice perfectionistic tendencies in yourself, Boyes suggests coming up with specific warning signs that you've persisted too long on something and it's time to take a break.

4. Feeling like you're an impostor
Researchers say 70% of people will experience "impostor syndrome" at least once in their lives. Basically, it's when you feel like your achievements are undeserved and you'll one day be revealed as a fraud.

As a result, you may be so afraid of failure that you experience tremendous anxiety when tackling an achievement-related task.

One way to conquer impostor syndrome is to consult your mentors and let them know how you feel. They'll likely assure you that your experience is normal — and completely irrational.

5. Fearing success
Psychologist Abraham Maslow coined the term "Jonah complex" to describe the fear of achieving your full potential. It can happen when you're starting a new career or professional position and it can be just as harmful as the fear of failure.

Maybe you fear the sense of responsibility that will accompany your new role; or maybe you simply can't imagine yourself as someone powerful.

It's important to try to figure out where this fear is coming from — for example, maybe a friend or family member told you that you weren't talented. Then challenge those messages by thinking rationally about all you've achieved so far.

6. Burying your head in the sand
The "ostrich effect" occurs when you avoid seeking information about progress toward your goals, largely out of fear that you'll be disappointed. For example, maybe you've been putting off checking your sales numbers this month because you have a feeling you haven't met expectations.

Unfortunately, the only way to get back on track is to figure out how far off the track you've fallen. If you're truly terrified of checking your progress, consider asking a colleague to give you regular feedback, so you don't have to muster up the willpower to do it yourself.

7. Procrastination
Procrastination isn't just an extreme case of laziness. In fact, it often stems from feelings of hostility or anger.

For instance, The Harvard Business Review cites an example of a computer scientist who was frustrated when he didn't get promoted. Instead of asking for feedback on his performance, he started procrastinating on projects — and was subsequently passed over for a promotion the following year.

To combat anger-related procrastination, it helps to learn to identify your emotional responses before they spiral out of control. Then you can think about a response that's more effective than putting off your work.