18 unprofessional habits that could ruin your job interview

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Job interviews are a prime opportunity to display some of your least professional qualities.

With all eyes on you, your habit of dressing sloppily or being exceedingly negative will be front and center for hiring managers and company influencers to see.

To help you avoid letting bad habits shine through at the worst moment, we asked experts to highlight some of the least professional behavior you could demonstrate that will almost certainly cost you the job.

Here's what you could be doing all wrong that makes you look unprofessional during your job interview:

Being late

Frequent tardiness is a common bad habit, but do whatever you can to avoid showing up late to the interview.

It will tell the hiring manager that you are irresponsible, aren't taking this process seriously, and don't respect their time. And this is not the first impression you want to make.

Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early. If you find yourself running way ahead of schedule, career expert Amanda Augustine and Business Insider's director of talent, Stephanie Fogle, suggest killing time by ducking into a coffee shop or walking around the neighborhood, Kathleen Elkins reports.

Why? Showing up too early isn't great, either. It can be frustrating for the hiring manager, as your early arrival could throw a curveball into their schedule.

Poor grooming and hygiene

Water shortage or not, if there's one occasion you really want to shower before, it's a job interview.

"Do you want people focusing on the musty odor that surrounds you or your brilliant words?" asks Rosalinda Oropeza Randall, an etiquette and civility expert and the author of "Don't Burp in the Boardroom," tells Business Insider. "Lack of effort in your appearance can be construed as potentially lacking effort in your work and work area."

Dressing inappropriately

As they say, dress for the job you want, not the job you have.

"Sloppy clothes scream 'I don't care!' and are a surefire way to put off those around you," Randall says.

Dressing too formally for an interview could also tell an employer that you didn't research the company culture and you're not a fit.