Rude behavior and unprofessional behavior rank among the top blunders for job seekers. Survey research by staffing provider Express Employment Professionals found that 68% of hiring managers said a candidate being rude would cause them not to hire that person. Other factors included a candidate being late, 55%, and wearing unprofessional attire, 53%.

Other candidate blunders that can cost them job offers include being uninformed about the company or position, cited by 47% of hiring managers; unprofessional body language, 44%; and not asking questions, 27%.

Additional problems: 36% of hiring managers have had a candidate overshare personal information, 33% have seen a candidate check their watch, 32% have heard a candidate swear and 28% caught a candidate lying.

However, there have been reports of more unique difficulties uncovered by Express’ questions to hiring managers. Other reports include:

• “A person came in for an interview half an hour late. He acted excited about the position and said he could start right away. Then he said, ‘I have conditions, though.’ He starts naming all of these things, pizza on Fridays, having off every other Friday. Then he walked out.”
• “[A candidate] pretended to get a phone call from another employer offering them more money.”
• “[During the interview,] the candidate brought in their iguana and asked if we would compensate the iguana for being with her at work every day.”

Express also surveyed candidates. It found that 35% said they did something during the interview that may be outside the norm.

Eleven percent of candidates said they overshared information, 10% said they checked their watches, 8% said they spoke negatively about their previous job or manager and 8% said they had an interruption during the interview by a pet or child.

Candidates have also seen interviewers act inappropriately, with 32% saying an interviewer answered a phone call during an interview, 30% saying an interviewer checked their watch and 20% saying an interviewer overshared personal information.

Candidates also cited strange information:

• “I saw a physical fight break out between two employees in the office, and the manager interviewing me rushed over to break it up and got knocked out by one of the guys in the fight.”
• “An employee came in and quit while I was being interviewed.”
• “The person interviewing me went into labor.”

“Though these eccentric interview antics may elicit a chuckle, both the candidate and hiring manager should honor each other’s time, striving to uncover not only if the job seeker has the proper qualifications, but also if the applicant would be a good fit with the company’s culture,” said Bill Stoller, Express Employment International CEO.

Express’ survey of hiring managers included 1,007 and took place between Oct. 31 and Nov. 10, 2023. Its survey of job seekers included 1,002 and took place from Nov. 9 to Nov. 26, 2023.