Don't Ruin Your New Media Jobs Chances

People looking for new media jobs are being urged not to ruin their chances of getting employment by acting oddly during interviews.

Research conducted on behalf of an online jobs site revealed that 13 per cent of British business leaders said that basic bad manners were damaging people's chances of getting a job.

The business leaders said that job seekers stopped themselves finding work by using their mobile phones, to either text or answer a call, while being interviewed by potential employers.

Recruiters warned that jobseekers should steer clear of certain blunders when trying to sell their skills in interview situations.

The poll found that 32 per cent of recruiters said that criticising current or previous employers was a common mistake made by candidates.

Furthermore, 30 per cent of recruiters said that some job seekers appeared arrogant or disinterested, while 30 per cent said interviewees dressed inappropriately and 23 per cent provided too much personal information.

Tony Roy, president of the online recruitment firm, said that while interviews could be difficult there were a number of simple things that people can do to improve their chances of getting a job.

He said: "Job interviews are high-stress, high-pressure situations. It's important to practice responses.

"Research the company and industry and prepare thoughtful questions about new developments and opportunities. Show enthusiasm and provide examples of what you can bring to the table for their organisation."

Some of the biggest interview clangers discovered by the research included a man who kept his crash helmet on the whole time, a candidate who fell asleep and a woman who brought a family member with her to the process.

There was good news for people looking for new media jobs as an increasing number of companies claim they plan to recover from the current economic climate by expanding their workforce.

A study by Clydesdale and Yorkshire banks found that 56 per cent of firms are aiming to hire more staff by next year and 32 per cent of businesses are planning to recruit more managers.

Scott McKerracher, a regional director at Clydesdale Bank, said: "It continues to be a challenging time for businesses and many will have had to make tough decisions to protect their business.

"However, few will have lost sight of the fact that their staff are their most important asset."

The Association of Graduate Recruiters recently claimed that confidence was growing among their members despite current economic uncertainty.