The interview started off with his "I've got this job in the bag" attitude. And when the fresh-out-of college wannabe professional was asked where he pictured himself in three years, he went on to say he wasn't sure about that, but he did know he'd be "making a lot of money." So far his future wasn't looking so prosperous.

It's the basics--attitude, dress and how you conduct yourself--that can give you a leg up on getting an offer or not. Here are six ways that younger workers trip up on those basics.

- What me learn anything?

When employer Sherrie Graham was reviewing responsibilities of the job with a young candidate, Graham says she "informed me that her professors told her she was an outstanding writer and leader and should be given lots of responsibility in her first job. She also didn't see why it was important to learn any more about using office software than she already knew--which was not much. The candidate wanted to know why she could not start writing press releases instead of learning corporate policies and standards. Ironically, her sample releases showed typographical errors and misspellings."

- Hemming, hawing, blaming

A 20-something year old dug his bad first impression hole deeper when asked to share an example of a recent mistake he made. He hemmed, hawed and finally shared one, then retreated, saying. "'No, umm, that wasn't my mistake, it was a co-worker's,'" says former human resource manager Mary Schneider. After sharing another mistake, he said, "'No, that was his teacher's fault.' Agh!" exclaims Schneider. No one's perfect. Better to impart that insight by admitting what you did and being a smart cookie by sharing what you learned from the experience.

- Not prepped on the company

When younger workers are asked, "Why do you want to work for us?" or "What do you know about us?" many fail miserably. For example, when Schneider asked a 20-something year-old what he knew of her Fortune 500 company, he said, "He knew people who worked for us and had seen our commercials on TV." That didn't go over well.

- Pitiful phone etiquette

Even after asking young candidates to turn off their phone, they don't, say employers. Plus they answer them. One candidate kept her phone on vibrate (which it continued to do) throughout an interview with employer Sherrie Graham, who found this "very annoying." Another candidate had told her child she left at home by herself to call every 15 minutes--which the child did. The candidate wasn't considered.

- Project low confidence

How you talk about yourself says a lot. "I asked one candidate to 'please describe your knowledge and skills in using a computer,'" explains Graham. The response in a very soft voice, with head down: "I don't know. I can type in Windows and send me-mails."

- Bad behavior

Winding things up, when Schneider asked one candidate if he had anything else to share, he said, "'Nope, I think you've got it all.' To top it all off, he actually slouched in the chair and put his foot up on my desk! Needless to say, he did not get the job."

This Detroit-based hiring manager shares how one young worker, although he lacked experience, outshined all others applying for an accounts payable manager job--because of his attitude. They interviewed 25 applicants who, with few exceptions, had management experience. But they unanimously chose the youngest with no such experience. He says the young man stood out for "his eagerness to learn, drive for positive change and enthusiasm for team building."

© by Andrea Kay