Asking to Be Paid ‘Under the Table’ Among Job Interview Blunders

iStockphoto/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — Making a good impression during a job interview will undoubtedly improve your chances of landing a position, while committing a blunder will probably result in a lost opportunity. 

Asking to be paid “under the table” seems to be a bizarre request, but that’s what one candidate actually did during a job interview.  That’s just one blunder uncovered by a recent CareerBuilder.com-commissioned survey of 2,600 hiring managers and 3,900 workers.

Here’s a rundown of some of the real-life interview blunders uncovered in the survey:

• Candidate said he had to quit a banking position because he was always tempted to steal.
• Candidate denied that he had a cell phone with him even though it could be heard ringing in the briefcase beside him.
• Candidate emptied the employer’s candy dish into her pocket.
• Candidate said he didn’t like getting up early and didn’t like to read.
• Candidate asked to be paid “under the table.”
• Candidate reached over and placed a hand on the interviewer’s knee.
• Candidate commented that he would do whatever it takes to get the job done, legal or not.
• Candidate hugged the president of the company.
• Candidate called his wife to see what they were having for dinner.
• Candidate asked to postpone the start date so she could still get holiday gifts from vendors at her current job.
• Candidate called in sick to her current employer during the interview, faking an illness.
• Candidate said he didn’t want the job if he had to work a lot.
• Candidate wouldn’t answer a question because he thought they would steal his idea and not hire him.

The survey also asked hiring managers to identify six fatal interview errors that job candidates make:

• Appearing disinterested.
• Answering a cell phone or texting.
• Dressing inappropriately.
• Talking negatively about a current or previous employer.
• Poor body language: Failure to make eye contact or smile, bad posture and a weak handshake.
• Not providing specific examples.

The CareerBuilder.com survey was conducted by Harris Interactive.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio