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IT recruiters and IT managers are admittedly hard up for IT professionals these days.  The information technology field is absolutely a job seeker’s market right now.  However, that doesn’t mean that IT consultants can’t perform well in interviews.  If IT contractors make any of the major mistakes below, they’re actively taking themselves out of the running for IT jobs. 

1. Winging it: Not coming to a job interview prepared is a huge red flag.  It wastes everyone’s time and indicates a lot about the kind of employee you might be.  Don’t project that kind of future.
2. Being too demanding:  Nobody would recommend being a doormat.  However, if you spend most of your interview or conversations with IT recruiters talking about what you want, you need to take a step back.  While it is a job seeker’s market, no employer wants a one-sided deal.   Making sure you’re coming across as worth something before you ask for it is key.
3. Not putting your phone away:  It’s simple.  If you’re in an interview or meeting with a recruiter, your phone should be out of sight and on silent.  Not doing this signals less than 100% interest in a job.
4. Talking too much or too little:  This is actually a pretty hard mistake to make either way.  It will be obvious quickly if you’re not giving enough information or too much.  If you get either signal, pay attention to it and correct yourself immediately.  Both are tough to overcome if you spend the whole interview doing them.
5. Don’t bring anybody else into the decision.  Your parents, your spouse, your significant others, etc may hold weight in your decision.  However, you need to keep this information to yourself.  It’s extra information for recruiters or potential employers and it will absolutely hurt you if you complicate the process with more people than just you, your potential employer, and your recruiter.