As job seekers, we resort to great lengths to get ourselves noticed. We do all these, hoping for the better. But, from an interviewer's perspective, we are just one amongst the 99 percent of candidates they probably will not hire. Not that they have anything against you. But, in an overtly competitive (and rather incompetent) market, it's just a fact.
Most interviewers feel that the majority of candidates simply do not deserve the job. You may wish to deserve. But they do have their reasons as well. Here are the few most common ways by which candidates disqualify themselves during an interview.
The Epically Long Resume
If you make the recruiter search for more than 30 seconds for vital information about your qualifications, forget it. You've already lost their attention. Even in today's digital age, many candidates cram in as much information as possible into a long-winding three or four page resume. While your resume should give a succint and comprehensive view of your previous achievements, it needn't include every single thing you've done. You just need to mention work experience relevant to the position you have applied for.
Why you like the Job
What would you say if the employer asks you why you like your current job? Most of us would resort to something generic – like "I love the challenges" or "I like to take every opportunity to learn." However, this shows no positivity on your part, and enthusiasm is what your new employer is looking for. So, pick out a specific instance when you were really pepped up at your previous job. Explain why you were excited and, most importantly, sound excited when you talk about it.
Can't think of the Future
Oftentimes, candidates do not think beyond getting an immediate job when they go for an interview. Interviewers know that. They want to hire someone ambitious and motivated. If you have no well-laid plans for the future, chances are that you will slack off and stagnate in the current position. Instead if you convey the idea that the role helps you reach your career goals, the interviewer will be happy to help you along. At least, it guarantees that you will over-deliver in your quest for corporate gold!
Lack of Specific Skills
This just shows poor professional acumen. Many candidates apply for jobs they vaguely feel they can do, without even considering the skills requested by the employers. They often tune their resumes to fit into these requirements. However, these woven facts will be unravelled during the interview. Do not apply for a position which requires a comprehensive understanding of .Net programming, just because you had read the book on the same. Apply for it only if you are ready to do some programming during the interview.
The Hypothetical Answer
Interviewers will test you in a lot of ways, by asking you to describe several situations from their professional career. This is a painful process for candidates, and most of them try to explain in situaions in terms of how they will do it in the future. This is not what employers are looking for. They want to understand what situations you had faced and how you handled them in the past. In case you aren;t acquainted with a situation, do not feel ashamed to accept that. Better be honest, than beat about the bush, and come across as a poor communicator.