Ignorance isn’t bliss when it comes to the job hunt, a new Accountemps survey shows. More than one-third (36 per cent) of managers polled said knowing little or nothing about the company is the most common mistake job seekers make during interviews.
The survey was developed by Accountemps, the world’s first and largest specialized staffing service for temporary accounting, finance and bookkeeping professionals. It was conducted by an independent research firm and is based on telephone interviews with more than 300 Canadian senior managers at companies with 20 or more employees.
Senior managers were asked, “What do you think is the most common mistake candidates make during job interviews?” Their responses:
| Little or no knowledge of the company | 36% |
| Unprepared to discuss skills and experience | 17% |
| Unprepared to discuss career plans, goals | 13% |
| Limited enthusiasm | 11% |
| Late arrival | 9% |
| Lack of eye contact | 6% |
| Don’t know | 6% |
| Other | 1% |
| 99% |
*Responses do not total 100%, due to rounding.
“By learning as much as possible about a company, job candidates can demonstrate initiative, resourcefulness and a strong interest in the position,” said Kathryn Bolt, Canadian president of Accountemps. “Having this knowledge allows job hopefuls to make a stronger case for how they can contribute to the company’s success, as well as ask relevant questions to determine if the position is right for them.”
Accountemps’ parent company, Robert Half, recently launched Don’t Let This Happen to You (http://www.roberthalf.com/dont-let-this-happen-to-you), a light-hearted video series depicting interviews that have gone awry, along with tips for avoiding common blunders.
Accountemps has more than 350 offices worldwide and offers online job search services at http://www.accountemps.com/. Follow Accountemps for workplace news at twitter.com/accountemps.
For further information:
Nadia Santoli
(416) 350-2330
mailto:[email protected]
