I had studied all the standard questions likely to be asked in job interviews. To be sure, interviewers selected by Pennsylvania Labor and Industry tended to use the same questions, so I practiced my answers to these questions out loud. If anything, I was over-prepared.

On interview day I was ushered into a room where three people were seated at a table. I had faced each of the three in previous interviews. I smiled with confidence. This would be easy, I thought.

After the usual opening pleasantries, one of them asked what I thought was the standard opening question: “Why should we hire you for this position?” I rolled out my very polished reply, but was interrupted mid- response. “Apparently you misunderstood the question. We asked, ‘How did you prepare for this interview?’”

After all my preparation, I made a fundamental mistake. Don’t do what I did. Avoid these all-too-common interview errors:

Poor Personal Appearance or Dress

Appearance is the most common reason qualified applicants are not hired following interviews. I saw applicants reporting to the Job Center for interviews wearing shirts with spaghetti sauce stains, baseball caps worn backwards and tee shirts with offensive slogans. Some applicants even failed to shower or wash there hands before an interview. Job seekers can avoid this goof by carefully observing how people dress on the job and following their example.

Making Negative Comments About Previous Employers

Interviewers frequently ask about reasons for leaving previous jobs. Unfortunately some job seekers use these questions as an opportunity to vent their frustrations with previous employers or authority in general. This raises a red flag to screeners. Employers, understandably, do not hire those they suspect will be troublemakers. Job seekers facing interviews should practice an acceptable answer for such touchy questions.

Failure to Sell

Many people don’t get the job they want because they don’t sell themselves. Show what you can do for the company. Great baseball pitcher Dizzy Dean said, “If you can do it, it ain’t braggin’.” You know what skills the company is looking for so offer examples from your résumé.

Don’t Bring Personal Problems to the Interview

“Why do you want this job?” is a common question. Interviewers are aware that each applicant brings economic necessities to the job interview, but they become uncomfortable when applicants appear to appeal to their sympathy by crying and giving explicit details about their personal situation. Anticipate that question and prepare to answer in an objective manner.

Don’t be Late for the Interview

The job seeker should actually be 15 minutes early. The employer will assume you will be late for work if you're late for the interview.

Don’t Take Anyone With You To the Interview

Some teenagers might think it’s best to bring parents or friends along to interviews. During one interview, I even gave an infant a bottle at my desk while the mother was in an interview. A job interview can be intimidating to anyone, especially teenagers. Parents can help more by conducting mock interviews than by going along. Parents who have a job interview should make child care arrangements during a job interview. Factor in some extra time to spend with the person providing childcare.

Lack of Preparation

This blunder demonstrates itself when the job seeker cannot ask intelligent questions. He or she also cannot show what they can do for the company if they do not know the company’s business. Be sure to take a pen, copies of your résumé, and lists of references with you to the interview. Finding directions to the business, where to park and where to enter the building all fall under necessary preparation.

Don’t Talk Yourself Out of the Job

Let the employer lead the interview. Your answers should be brief but complete, no rambling. I see a job interview a two-way street: It should be a 50-50 conversation. Know when to shut up and listen.

Best Recovery Is Honesty

If you screw up, be human and own up to it. Say, “May I try that again? I misunderstood. I may have been anticipating the question.” The interviewer may feel responsible for the situation and try to make things easier. Coming clean may have salvaged my own long-ago interview goof.