These are the worst mistakes we've seen young people make in job interviews

We are usually impressed with the calibre of candidates. Most people we meet seem smart and accomplished, and applicants "get" our all-digital, fast-paced, anti-boring way of handling business news.

But ... young people are human, too. They make mistakes.

What follows are all real-life errors committed by people who wanted to work at Business Insider.

24. You want a job with us but you don't read Business Insider ...

"So, what do you like most about Business Insider?" "Er..."

This is one of the most common, and most baffling, mistakes: When it becomes clear that a promising candidate has not actually looked at our site recently. We're hiring people who want to workwith us, not people who just need a job.

Tip: Read the site on the morning of your interview and take a couple of notes so you can show us you're well-informed.

23. Showing up 20 minutes early.

It may seem like a good idea to show up early, but it puts pressure on the interviewer to meet with you. A time was set for a reason. You should never be late, but five minutes is enough for showing up in advance.

Tip: Find a nearby coffee spot and hang out there until your interview time.

22. Being too general.

You have one shot to demonstrate your knowledge and skills — so be as specific as you can when answering questions. Don't answer questions with "yes" or "no." The interviewer shouldn't have to feel as if he or she is carrying the conversation.

Tip: Review the projects you're most proud of before heading into an interview. It's easy to forget the details even if it's your own work.

21. Not bringing a printed CV to your interview.

Bring a printed copy of your resume even if you previously emailed a copy. It shows that you're organised and prepared, and it's less work for the interviewer.

Tip:

20. Typos in your cover letter, CV, or résumé.

Your command of written English — spelling, grammar, and punctuation — is a shorthand test of your intelligence, or at least of your ability to memorize the rules of the language. Typos make you look unintelligent, even though smart people make mistakes all the time.

Tip: Get someone else to edit your letter and CV before you send them.

19. Having bad breath.

Everyone suffers from dry mouth at the office.

Tip:

18. Not telling a good story about your life.

Who are you, what are you good at, and what do you want to do with your life? We want a quick, clear history of your life and career so far. At Business Insider, storytelling is literally what we do, but at any company, communication is key. If you cannot communicate who you are quickly, you're not getting the job.

Tip: Write it down beforehand and rehearse with a friend.

17. Being overly sarcastic or negative.

We do not expect you to be a cheerleader. But if we hire you, we're going to be spending a lot of time together, so we don't want you killing the buzz.

Tip: Just be nice. Smile.

16. Being arrogant.

Sure, we're interested in hiring you. But that doesn't mean you're a rock star, and our company won't collapse without you.

Tip: Just because you got the interview doesn't mean you got the job. You still have to sell us.

15. Not knowing anything about the field you're interviewing for.

If you're interviewing for a job that requires you to stay abreast of the technology industry, obviously we're going to ask you what you think is so interesting about tech. So if your answer is "Er ... ," then we're going to be less than impressed.

Tip: Prepare! Literally write some speaking points on a notepad before you arrive at the interview. It will help you in case you freeze.

14. Sending email attachments.

Tip: Your CV or is best displayed as a LinkedIn URL. Examples of your work are most easily seen if they come as links within the email.

13. Wearing a Ramones T-shirt to a job interview.

We get it. You're young and cool. And we love the Ramones, too.

Tip: Make us feel as if you're a safe bet by wearing a shirt and tie (men) or go conservative but stylish (women).

12. Letting your cat escape out of a window during a live video chat.

We often use Skype and Google Hangout. A video interview may feel casual, but you need to prepare: In the background, we can see the dishes piled in your sink or the laundry hanging off your bedroom door.

One candidate interrupted her conversation with us when her cat jumped out of an open window. (We hired this person anyway.)

Tip: Take a screengrab of what your laptop can see so you can tidy your room before the interview starts.

11. Trying to negotiate your salary in the first meeting.

We get that you're trying to make sure you aren't wasting anyone's time.

Tip: Remember that this is a process.

10. Using a photo of your dog or kids — or a bad picture of yourself — on your Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+ accounts.

9. Forgetting to follow up via email.

8. Putting career "objectives" at the top of your résumé.

Young candidates pad their CVs with fluffy, clichéd career-goal statements.

Do not do this!

Tip: We want to see only a simple list of your education and work experiences, and maybe a list of other useful skills at the bottom.

7. Trying to impress us with your off-the-wall creativity.

We're looking for people who seem reliable and trustworthy.

6. Sending us a video résumé.

We need to be sent easily by email to other HR staff, and we may want to print them out so we can compare candidates side by side. Off-format CVs are useless for this.

Tip: Your best bet? LinkedIn.

5. Failing to provide a link to your LinkedIn profile.

We can't emphasize this enough: When you have to compare hundreds of CVs, LinkedIn is really useful because it makes all candidates' look the same — and that makes it easier for us to figure out who is relevant and who isn't.

Tip: A LinkedIn URL in an email is a lot easier for us to deal with than a Word or PDF attachment.

4. Eating a sandwich during our meeting.

If you're discussing a potential job with an employer over "coffee,"

Tip: Drink coffee, tea, water or nothing if offered.

3. Being "low-energy."

Demonstrating the correct level of "energy" during a job interview is a tough call. You want to demonstrate that you're a low-drama person — but not a monosyllabic introvert. You're happy to be here, but we don't want you bouncing off the walls like a crazy person.

Tip: If we can see you're excited at the idea of working for us, we're more likely to get excited about the idea of giving you a job.

2. Men forgetting to shave.

Beards and mustaches are fashionable on men right now, and many guys brought them along on their job interviews.

Tip: If you're rocking facial hair, make sure it is impeccably groomed.

1. Making your CV three pages long when you have no experience.

Don't worry about your CV not looking full enough — that's OK. We d