10 mistakes that immediately disqualify potential hires

Everybody knows first impressions are important, and new research from CareerBuilder shows that holds true for the interview room too.

Nearly half (49%) of employers know if a candidate is a good fit within the first five minutes, and only eight per cent make up their mind within a half an hour or longer.

However, there are some things candidates can do which will immediately cause the atmosphere to sour - including one rogue jobseeker that asked for a cocktail in place of the usual interview beverages.

In addition, hiring managers reported that swearing (51%), acting arrogant or entitled (59%) or answering a call or text (67%) during the interview is likely to be an instant deal-breaker.