“This one candidate was picking at his nails and tearing his cuticles during the interview, and he placed each piece on my desk as he was talking. I don’t know if it was because he was nervous or something, but how gross is that?” says the hiring manager.

Moral of the story: Whatever you do, don’t pick at anything. This includes your face, ears, and even scratching your head while thinking. It shows that you’re nervous, and that will make your interviewer uncomfortable. “You can use your hands for expression, but when you’re listening, just keep them on your lap or folded on the table,” says the hiring manager.