You were sure when you got called for that interview that the job was yours. But, you somehow managed to turn a certain job offer into a response of “thanks, but no thanks.”

Here are 5 interview mistakes you should never make.

Arrive too early

First impressions are everything. Arriving 10 minutes early is imperative but arriving more than 10 minutes early can be detrimental. Your interviewer has set aside a specific block of time to interview you, hence the fact that they’ve scheduled the interview for a specific time.

Walk the fine line between wasting their time by arriving too early and wasting their time by arriving too late.

“What does your company do?”

Do your research. Walk into the interview with knowledge of the company’s history, goals and current activity. Being well prepared in this sense demonstrates that you have a strong interest in being a part of the company.

Attempting to “wing it” is not an option.

“How much will I make?”

Please, whatever you do, don’t ask about salary. The first thing that typically comes to the interviewers mind is, “what makes you so sure you’re going to get the job?”

Commencing the salary discussion is only acceptable if (a) the interviewer initiates the discussion or (b) you have an offer letter in your hand.

“My ex-boss was a bitch!”

Even if you hate your ex-boss and have a number of former co-workers who would fully support your opinion, do not display animosity or anger in relation to your ex-boss or ex-coworkers, for that matter.

The interview is not the time or the place to air your grievances about being wronged by your past boss. It will only be taken as foreshadowing of the way you will discuss your future boss.

Nobody wants to hire the disgruntled gossiper.

“Who gossips with you will gossip of you.”

Lie

Don’t ever lie. The employer will likely find out that you lied about qualifications or experience, and lying in a job interview is almost always a deal breaker.

Honesty is always the best policy.

“I’m not upset that you lied to me, I’m upset that from now on I can’t believe you.” – Friedrich Nietzsche