Have you been looking for you next job for months?  Perhaps years?  While many job candidates focus on what they should do to outsmart the competition and land their next job, there are a few things that job candidates should never do if they want to make sure they have a shot at getting hired:

1. Going negative on an employer can kill your chances of being hired.  Going negative is not just about avoiding the temptation to bash your former boss who was a micromanager, it is also about keeping a generally upbeat positive attitude during the interview and application process.  Even when talking about how you resolved a conflict successfully, avoid casting the other people in your story as the antagonists.  Always keep a calm and positive outlook about any past negative experiences you may have had.
2. Your inability to distinguish yourself from the competition is another turn off for employers.  Employers want to know what it is that you do better than the rest.  Make sure you can answer that question clearly and succinctly.
3. Exaggerating your experience and accomplishments are another sure way of closing off any job opportunity.  Employers want to know exactly how much experience you have and will be very unhappy if they are “surprised” once they hire you.  If you don’t know something, don’t be afraid to say so and as long as you can show the employer how you can compensate or learn that skill, you won’t be automatically eliminated from the running.
4. Failing to question the employer about the job is another turn off.  Take the time to question employers about the job they are asking you to do.  And if you don’t understand something, ask them to explain further.