Job interviews: Recruiters reveal the strangest things candidates have done

1. There are fewer things more nerve-racking than a job interview but think about these poor candidates who have stuck out in their potential employer’s minds -and for all the wrong reasons.

2. A nationwide survey of HR managers in the US by the recruitment company CareerBuilder has found some of the strangest things that have ever happened during a job interview.

3. From theft to attempting to read the interviewer’s fortune against his will, these are some things not to do in a job interview:

• Candidate took a family photo off the interviewer’s desk and put it into her purse.

• Candidate started screaming that the interview was taking too long.

• Candidate said her main job was being a psychic/medium and tried to read interviewer’s palm, despite interviewer’s attempts to decline the offer.

• When asked what his ideal job was, the candidate said "painter of birdhouses."

(Company was hiring for a data entry clerk.)

• Candidate sang her responses to questions.

• Candidate put lotion on his feet during the interview.

• When asked why he wanted the position, candidate replied, "My wife wants me to get a job."

• Candidate started feeling interviewer’s chest to find a heartbeat so they could "connect heart to heart."

• Candidate had a pet bird in his/her shirt.

• Candidate took phone interview in the bathroom — and flushed.

4. The survey also found that failing to make eye contact, not smiling and being caught in a lie were the biggest — and most common — mistakes candidates could make.

5. Rosemary Haefner, chief human resources officer for CareerBuilder, said: "Preparing for an interview takes a lot more than Googling answers to common interview questions.

6. "Candidates have to make a great first impression with their appearance, have a solid understanding of the target company, know exactly how to show that they’re the perfect fit for the job and control their body language."