5 Ways You Are Being Rude in a Job Interview

By Selipha Kihagi

It happens to most of us. You try to be nice and cordial to someone, only to end up being rude. On most occasions you don’t even realize you were rude. But the other person(s) remembers your rudeness vividly. While you can get away with it in some situations, being rude in a job interview is not an option.

Following our recent article on how to get a job after being rejected in job interviews, we thought it best to share a few pointers on what could be the problem. And being rude in a job interview tops the list of problems that could cost you the job. So, how do you know if you were rude or not? As mentioned earlier, being rude sometimes is not intentional. It just happens. You try your best to be professional, but it happens. And unfortunately this happens in the most important situations.

Being rude in a job interview is one such important situation as it determines if you remain unemployed or you finally get a new job. Below are 5 ways you are being rude in a job interview. Read through and work to be better in your next interview.

How You Are Being Rude in a Job Interview

1. Not answering interview questions

You are probably wondering how this is so. Wanjiru Chabeda is a Recruitment Account Manager at Corporate Staffing. She confirms to having had an interview with a candidate who did not respond to her questions. When asked what was wrong, the candidate just said nothing. It is anyone’s guess that the said interview did not proceed and the candidate did not get the second interview. So, are you a victim of not answering questions?

It could be that you got anxious or that you don’t know the answer to the question asked. But not saying anything does not tell the recruiter or interviewer that you don’t know the answer. It just portrays rudeness and there is no getting back from this one. Being rude in a job interview could mean that you never get invited to any more interviews, even though you are well qualified. Learn more here on how to answer interview questions you don’t know the answer to.

2. Not knowing information about the company

It goes without saying that you must do extensive research about a company before going for the interview. What does the company do? Who are their competitors? What are their products or services? What is their recent news? Did they launch a new product? You must have the answers to these questions before the interview. If there is information about the company that is available on the internet, learn it. This is because if you don’t, it could be translated as you being rude in a job interview. And no one wants that.

However, please note that this is more important to those having their first interview with the hiring company. If your first interview is with a recruitment firm, chances are that you don’t even know the company that is hiring. So don’t bother about that too much. This is how an interview with a recruitment firm is different.

3. You arrive late and forget (or not care) to apologise

You will be surprised how many candidates have fallen prey to this kind of rudeness. It will not matter if you were 5 minutes, 30 minutes or an hour late to the interview. If you do not apologise for it, this will portray you as you being rude in a job interview. So, to be on the safe side, make sure you are always 10 minutes early for any interview. But if you are stuck in the crazy Nairobi traffic, let an apology be the first thing you do. And please avoid explaining yourself, unless of course the interviewer asks why.

An interviewer can be late and not apologize, but you can’t. It is one of the common double standards in the hiring process. It may be wrong, yes, but then again the interviewer has the power and you don’t. It is one of those situations you cannot control and sometimes very intentional. Some recruiters and employers have revealed to being late for an interview on purpose, so they can see how the candidate reacts.

4. Having an attitude is considered being rude in a job interview

You know how most employers say they would pick a candidate’s attitude over experience and qualifications? Well, it is very true and the renowned billionaire Richard Branson is a great supporter. So is your local billionaire Chris Kirubi. Employers and recruiters want to be associated with candidates with a great attitude. Not those who seem to undermine others or who consider themselves too good for certain jobs or people. So, what attitude are you portraying in the interview room?

Some candidates have been said to belittle their interviewers because they are younger than them or because they look less experienced. Well, you will not get the job if you are belittling someone who has the power to say yes or no to you. They could be less experienced or even much younger than you, but they are your gateway towards getting that job you applied for. So why not put your attitude in check? You could have all the qualifications needed and the experience that is top notch, but if you have a bad attitude then you don’t get the job.

5. Excusing yourself to answer a phone call

Oh yeah? So the interviewer is wasting your time and keeping you from more important things? If you didn’t think the interview was important, why did you show up in the first place? You know there are other well qualified candidates who consider the job very important, right? And that right there is exactly how the interviewer will interpret a situation where you excuse yourself to pick a call.

It is considered being rude in a job interview and will always put you on the wrong side of the interviewer. It will not matter how well the interview could be going. So, always put your phone on silent and live through the few minutes of the interview.

In the end

Being rude in a job interview is considered the worst mistake any candidate can do. Why? An interview is a chance to prove why you are the right candidate for the job and your being rude in a job interview is the complete opposite of right. Remember that interviewers, younger than you or lesser experienced, are there to judge your suitability. It may resonate to you as not your ideal setting, but then again you do want to get hired in that job, right? Learn to keep your rudeness in check and the interview will go smoothly.

Got something to say on interviews? We’d love to hear it below. And while at it, follow us on LinkedIn here for more career advice and jobs.