How to put off an interviewer in 7 easy steps

No matter how well qualified you are, no matter how much experience you have in hospitality jobs, if you’re going to land your dream job you need to impress the person interviewing you.

After all, they'll likely be your boss, so it's only natural they'll want to make sure that working with you day in, day out won't be something they come to dread.

Well, here at Caterer.com, we were wondering — should personality matter at all? Surely it's your ability to do the job that's most important?

Well, let’s test that theory, shall we? Here are seven easy steps to ensure you don’t make that all-important personal connection, so your experience and qualifications take centre stage.

1. Turn up late

Whatever you do, don’t turn up on time for the interview. It just makes you look desperate. Far better to make a dramatic entrance, five, ten, maybe 15 minutes late. Watch the jaws of your interviewers drop as you coolly saunter in, throw your copy of Nuts/Take A Break on the table and lean back in your chair ready for whatever they want to ask you.

2. Leave your phone on

Important people are busy people. They haven’t got time to focus on just one thing at a time. A call or a message could arrive at any time and you need to be ready to take it, so leave your phone on and when it rings, answer it. It’ll make them realise just how important you are.

In fact, why leave it to chance? Why not arrange for someone to call you during the interview? The interviewer won’t know it’s your mum.

3. Use nicknames

You know how on the football team everyone has their nicknames and it’s only when you get one that you feel part of the group? Well, it’s exactly the same in an interview. The sooner you can come up with a nickname for your interviewer and start using it the better you’ll all get on.

If you’re struggling to think of one just look out for some unusual characteristic and riff on that. Are they a bit overweight? ‘Tubby’. Maybe the hairline’s receding a little? ‘Baldy’. They’ll love it.

4. Don’t wait for the questions

Put yourself in their shoes. They’ve probably done 20 of these interviews in the last week. They’re sick and tired of asking the same old questions over and over again. So, do them a favour and don’t wait around for the question.

You know what they want to ask, so save them the bother, cut them off mid-sentence (maybe a try a wink here?) and start talking. Bet you can’t wait to see that look of gratitude spread across their little faces, can you?

5. Crack jokes

People in hospitality jobs are meant to be characters. Don’t believe all the talk about tolerance, respect for co-workers, and all that box-ticking claptrap. No one really believes it anyway — they’d much rather have a laugh.

So, tell a few jokes. If you know any racist or sexist jokes, don’t be afraid to use them. They’ll just think you’re a character. Homophobic jokes are great, too. And whatever you do, don’t stop if they’re not laughing. They’re probably just laughing on the inside.

6. Talk, talk and talk

This is your moment to shine. The interviewer is there to hear about how great you are. So tell them in as much detail as you can about everything you’ve ever achieved. Omit no detail, no matter how insignificant it may seem, and talk as much as you possibly can.

Maybe think of it like a competition: keep a count on your writing pad of how many words the interviewer says and see if you can keep it down to single figures.

7. Ask for more

After a performance like that your interviewers will be practically begging you to start right away. So, play it cool. Don’t accept their first offer. Don’t even wait for their first offer. Tell them you’ll need to be paid more than your colleagues, you absolutely can’t work during peak hours, and before you even consider starting work they’ll need to give a job to your girlfriend/brother/best mate who’s just been fired again.

Now, what interviewer wouldn’t be impressed by confidence like that?

- We go through the negative body language that could cost you the job
- Read our advice on preparing for an interview
- First impressions count, which is why we've put together some tips on how to dress at interviews