We all have bad habits – but it’s important to make sure these bad (and unprofessional) habits are left at home before going on an important job interview.

We all want to put the best foot forward and make a great impression on the interviewer. Sometimes, whether it’s nerves, or whether we let down our guard, unprofessional habits can rear their ugly head at the most inopportune time – and it can kill your chances of getting the sales job you’ve applied for.

7 Unprofessional Habits That Kill Your Chances of Getting the Sales Job

From an interviewer’s point of view, here is a collection of unprofessional habits that will severely hurt your chances of getting a sales job:

1. Being late: Being late for a job interview is a major no-no. What would happen if you were late for a sales call or meeting with a client? It could result in lost business.

2. Not dressing professionally: Part of sales is to dress the part. If you don’t come across as professional in an interview, it can make it difficult for the interviewer to imagine you as a sale rep for their company.

3. Swearing: Just don’t! Swearing and using inappropriate language will almost immediately kill your chances of getting the sales job. Swearing during the interview will cause the interviewer to wonder if you would do the same when talking with important clients.

4. Being too open: During the interview, the interviewer is trying to imagine you in the role for which you are applying. Being too open and informal could cause them to question whether or not you can be professional when interacting with clients if they were to hire you for the job.

5. Being overly confident: Having confidence is one thing, but being overly confident can come across as arrogant and rub some people the wrong way – not something you want to do when trying to sell them something.

6. Lack of preparation: While being prepared for an interview may seem like the obvious thing to do, many people still rest on their laurels and wing interviews. The issue with this is that companies may wonder if you’d do the same when meeting with clients and making sales calls.

7. Checking your phone: The second you walk into the waiting room, you are being assessed. Before you walk in the door, turn off your phone and put it away. Texting while waiting could make you come off as being bored. You also don’t want your phone to ring or have a notification go off during the interview.

More Sales Career Advice

Read more about advancing your sales career by reading these posts from our sales recruiters:

How to Improve Sales Skills and Boost Your Career

Succeed in a Career in Sales: 6 Habits of Highly Effective Business Meetings

5 Skills Sales People Will Need by 2020

SalesForce Search is a sales recruiting company which specializes in the recruitment and placement of sales professionals. We recruit sales people in every sector of the economy including, software, manufacturing, financial services and medical devices. Find the right sales person for your organization, start your search here.