Don’t ruin your chances of landing your dream job by making this common mistake. HR experts have shared their biggest red flags, including one habit that would get you instantly rejected
Made it to the final interview? Don’t fall at the last hurdle by making this common mistake.
Job interviews can be extremely daunting and intimidating, even if they’re being held over Zoom. Nobody is going to penalise you for being a little nervous, so take a deep breath, relax, and do your best.
Recently, HR staff have taken to Reddit to discuss their biggest red flags when profiling candidates to help you improve your chances of landing your dream job. Answers have spanned from speaking about their boozy weekends to bringing mummy and daddy along to the interview – but there is one particular habit that could result in an instant rejection.
Never use AI to answer questions an interviewer is asking you. Obviously, this would be difficult to do in real-life, but if candidates are being quizzed online – it can be easy to feed the questions into sites like ChatGPT – which will provide an automated answer.
Taking to Reddit, one HR expert shared their ‘wild’ experience where this happened to them. “I did a video interview with a lady who, after a few questions, made it painfully obvious that she was just feeding the questions into ChatGPT and reading back the answers,” he said.
“Her answers were rambling essays defining a keyword in the question rather than answering it. I asked her about her proudest accomplishment and she said ‘some things that people often feel a sense of accomplishment about include’…”
The Mirror tested out what kind of responses AI would give if you were applying for a customer service assistant role at Tesco. It responded with: “I am genuinely passionate about delivering exceptional customer service, and I believe my dedication, skills, and positive attitude make me an ideal candidate for the role of a customer service assistant at Tesco.
“With previous experience in customer-facing roles, I have honed my ability to listen attentively to customers’ needs, resolve issues efficiently, and ensure each interaction leaves a lasting positive impression. My communication skills, both verbal and written, allow me to effectively convey information and assist customers in navigating their shopping experience.”
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ChatGPT added: “I thrive in fast-paced environments and remain calm under pressure, enabling me to handle challenging situations with professionalism and grace. Moreover, I am committed to upholding Tesco’s values of putting customers first, teamwork, and continuous improvement. I am eager to contribute my energy and enthusiasm to the Tesco team, fostering a welcoming and enjoyable shopping environment for all customers.
“With a genuine passion for customer satisfaction and a strong work ethic, I am confident in my ability to excel in this role and make a valuable contribution to Tesco’s success.” So yes, it’s probably best to avoid relying solely on AI to answer questions in an interview, as you’ll sound extremely robotic and impersonable.
Aside from AI, another HR worker said body odour was another huge red flag that could get you dismissed from the rat race. “If you stink from across the table, it’s an instant ‘no’ from me,” one person said.
Another agreed, adding even if you smell nice – it could be too overpowering and put people off. “One woman had an extremely strong rose perfume,” they added. “It hit like a ton of bricks when you were within five feet of her. I couldn’t focus on the interview…”
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