Nigerians Report Online

National Press Club Mourns Death of Reporters Covering Unrest in Syria

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Nigeria's Religious Corruption Syndrome (RCS)

President Goodluck Jonathan needs more than good luck to overcome the challenges of wanton corruption and terrorism plaguing Nigeria.

Let’s Call It Religious Corruption Syndrome (RCS)

~ John Egbeazien Oshodi, Ph.D.

President Jonathan, in a recent special interview with Jonathan Power, a Swedish journalist viewed Nigerians as among the highly religious-minded human beings on earth, and stated that it remains a marked contradiction to see the pervasive level of corruption that exist in many Nigerians.

In theory, the understanding of what could be termed Religious Corruption Syndrome (RCS) should be seen as a function of both the chronic abuses of religious practices and the impact of pervasive dishonesty in individuals and across various faith communities in Nigeria.

The toxic aspects of Nigerian-oriented religions appear to have deep impact on the psychological connection to the deep sense of dishonesty.

With further attachment to one’s religion, some Nigerians appear to see enormous personal conforming behaviors which could include cycles of dishonesty, being defensive and blaming of others for one’s confusion.

There appears to be emotional/spiritual satisfaction from being religious and committing oneself to a corrupt lifestyle and living. The spirit, rationalization and acts of bribery are seemingly cherished. Not emotionally letting go of religious beliefs and the deep-seated need to remain corrupt tend to create a personal world of inner peace and moment-to-moment paradoxical view of one’s self as both special and moral.

The double conditioning from religious and immoral beliefs creates symbols of responsibility and a mindset of obligation to do more dishonesty.

Given the contradictions between being so religious, and being so dishonest as pointed out by President Jonathan; the issue of Religious Corruption Syndrome deserve an extensive study by scholars in order to find possible ways to reduce it as it is quite an unusual condition in many Nigerians.

~ John Egbeazien Oshodi, Ph.D., is a Forensic/Clinical Psychologist and the Secretary-General of the Nigeria Psychological Association (NPA), Abuja. Jos5930458@aol.com 08126909839.

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Marie Colvin, left, an American reporter working for The Sunday Times of London, and Rémi Ochlik, a French photographer, were killed in Syria on Wednesday.
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Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka Endorses The Missing Clock

Prof. Wole Soyinka endorsing "The Missing Clock" with the author Adeleke "Mai Nasara" Adeyemi and others standing beside him.

The first African Nobel Prize winner for Literature, Prof. Wole Soyinka has endorsed The Missing Clock, the children’s book of Adeleke “Mai Nasara” Adeyemi, the winner of the 2011 Nigeria Prize for Literature sponsored by the Nigeria LNG Limited.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

IMAX Corporation Appoints Andrew Cripps as President, Europe, Middle East and Africa

IMAX Corporation Names International Studio Executive Andrew Cripps President of IMAX EMEA. (PRNewsFoto/IMAX Corporation)

22 Feb 2012 16:00 Africa/Lagos

IMAX Corporation Names International Studio Executive Andrew Cripps President of IMAX EMEA

Cripps to Lead Company's Network Growth and Film Development Efforts in EMEA

NEW YORK, Feb. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- IMAX Corporation (NYSE:IMAX; TSX:IMX) today announced the appointment of Andrew Cripps as President, Europe, Middle East and Africa ("EMEA"). In this role, Cripps will be responsible for the expansion of IMAX's theatre network in these regions and will work closely with the Company's Filmed Entertainment division to identify international local-language IMAX DMR® and distribution opportunities. Cripps was also named Executive Vice President of IMAX Corp.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120222/NY57522)

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111107/MM01969LOGO)

Cripps joins IMAX from London-based Paramount Pictures International, where he had been President since January 2007. Previously, Cripps was President and COO of UIP, a joint venture distribution company between Paramount and Universal. He joined UIP in 1986 as Executive Assistant to the General Manager, Japan, and was later promoted to the roles of Vice-President Sales, South East Asia and Senior Vice-President, International Sales. Cripps spent 19 years in Japan and speaks fluent Japanese.

"Given Andrew's leadership, vast industry experience and strong relationships with exhibitors and studios, we believe he is well-equipped to help us maximize the growth opportunities that exist in the underpenetrated markets of EMEA," said Gelfond. "Our goals for 2012 include igniting our expansion efforts in Latin America, India and Europe, and bringing someone of Andrew's caliber on board further demonstrates our commitment to achieving these objectives. I am confident that Andrew's international expertise will benefit our organization beyond EMEA and we welcome him to the IMAX family."

"I am delighted to join IMAX, a company I know and respect and a name that is synonymous with quality entertainment," said Cripps. "I hope to leverage my more than 20 years in Europe, as well as my relationships with exhibitors, to expand the IMAX network and grow the brand."

"I have known and worked with Andrew for many years and hold him in the highest regard both personally and professionally," said Greg Foster, Chairman and President, IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "He is one of the most well-respected and creative entertainment executives in Europe, and his strategic knowledge and relationships within the international exhibition and film industry are a perfect fit for accelerating our growth efforts in EMEA. I look forward to continuing to partner with him to expand and build new studio relationships and bring international audiences more local-language films in the immersive IMAX format."

IMAX currently has 96 IMAX® theatres open in EMEA (76 commercial multiplex, 8 commercial destination and 12 institutional), and another 33 IMAX theatres in backlog scheduled to open throughout the region by 2014. The Company's current analysis of the market suggests that 350 theatres could exist in the region over time.

A British citizen born in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Andrew Cripps holds a BSc in Industrial Management from the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, and an MBA in International Business from Georgia State University, Atlanta.

About IMAX Corporation

IMAX Corporation is one of the world's leading entertainment and technology companies, specializing in the creation and delivery of premium, awe-inspiring entertainment experiences. With a growing suite of cutting-edge motion picture and sound technologies, and a globally recognized entertainment brand, IMAX is singularly situated at the convergence of the entertainment industry, innovation and the digital media world. The industry's top filmmakers and studios are utilizing IMAX theatres to connect with audiences in extraordinary ways, and as such, the IMAX network is among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for major event films around the globe. The Company's new digital projection and sound systems - combined with a growing blockbuster film slate - are fueling the rapid expansion of the IMAX network in established markets such as North America, Western Europe, and Japan, as well as emerging markets such as China and Russia. IMAX theaters deliver the world's best cinematic presentations using proprietary IMAX®, IMAX® 3D, and IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-Mastering) technologies. IMAX DMR enables virtually any motion picture to be transformed into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience®.

IMAX is headquartered in New York, Toronto and Los Angeles, with offices in London, Tokyo, Shanghai and Beijing. As of September 30, 2011, there were 583 IMAX theatres (441 commercial multiplex, 23 commercial destination and 119 institutional) operating in 48 countries.

IMAX®, IMAX® 3D, IMAX DMR®, Experience It In IMAX®, An IMAX 3D Experience® and The IMAX Experience® are trademarks of IMAX Corporation. More information about the Company can be found at www.imax.com. You may also connect with IMAX on Facebook (www.facebook.com/imax), Twitter (www.twitter.com/imax) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).

This press release contains forward looking statements that are based on IMAX management's assumptions and existing information and involve certain risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Important factors that could affect these statements include, but are not limited to, general economic, market or business conditions, including the length and severity of the current economic downturn, the opportunities that may be presented to and pursued by IMAX, the performance of IMAX DMR films, conditions in the in-home and out-of home entertainment industries, the signing of theatre system agreements, changes and developments in the commercial exhibition industry, the failure to convert theatre system backlog into revenue, new business initiatives , investments and operations in foreign jurisdictions, foreign currency fluctuations and IMAX's prior restatements and the related litigation. These factors and other risks and uncertainties are discussed in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and most recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

For additional information please contact:

Business Media:

Ann Sommerlath

212-821-0155

asommerlath@imax.com

Sloane & Company – New York

Whit Clay

212-446-1864

wclay@sloanepr.com

Investors:

IMAX Corporation – New York

Heather Anthony

212-821-0121

Entertainment Media:

IMAX Corporation – Santa Monica

Christine Tasto

310-255-5547

ctasto@imax.com

Principal Communications Group – Los Angeles

Melissa Zukerman/Paul Pflug

323-658-1555

melissa@pcommgroup.com

paul@pcommgroup.com

100% Growth in Online Video Views for London Fashion Week AW12

22 Feb 2012 13:48 Africa/Lagos

100% Growth in Online Video Views for London Fashion Week AW12

LONDON, February 22, 2012/PRNewswire/ --

46 British Fashion Designers live stream on over 100 sites in 200 countries

As London takes centre stage globally in 2012, an unprecedented worldwide audience tuned in online to watch the best of Britain's established and emerging designers showcase their AW12 collections at London Fashion Week [http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk ]. This season's on-schedule shows were live streamed by Rightster (http://www.rightster.com), the British Fashion Council's official video distribution partner. Rightster's cloud-based software centralised, simplified and automated the distribution of all live and on demand video content from the week for the BFC and its partners. Rightster also facilitated delivery of live streams onto designer and publisher Facebook communities for the first time, including the Roksanda Ilincic and Vogue facebook pages, as well as managing the BFC's official YouTube channel.

Caroline Rush, CEO of The British Fashion Council commented:

"We launched the British Fashion Council's digital strategy in 2009 to harness technology and creativity to promote British designers to a global audience. Each season look for new ways to unite fashion and digital innovation. With London playing such a key role on the world stage this year, we are pleased to meet the demand from a worldwide audience for London Fashion Week content, supported by Rightster's innovative technology and live video expertise. "

More designer shows than ever before (46) were live streamed by Rightster, as designers ramped up their digital activity to engage a broad consumer and trade audience online, Rightster's system was used to seamlessly distribute the official content to over 100 broadcast, online and mobile publishers worldwide, with sites such as Elle, Grazia and the Telegraph carrying live and on demand video from the event. This resulted in a 100% increase in the number of viewers year on year, indicating the growing demand from an online audience for live fashion events.

London Fashion Week is a global event and Rightster delivered live streams to viewers in over 200 countries worldwide, including places as far afield as India, Iran and Israel. The most popular countries measured by number of views were the UK, US, Canada and Germany.

This season also saw a marked increase in content delivery across multiple platforms and devices, as fashion publishers and designers look to reach consumers wherever they may be. As well as distribution across publisher sites, Facebook and YouTube, Rightster also delivered LFW video onto tablet devices for the first time, via the Times's iPad app.

In addition to distribution, Rightster's system enabled revenue generation around LFW content, integrating best in class advertising solutions, media agencies and brands to ensure global monetisation of the live and on demand video content. To accommodate often fashionably late catwalk shows, Rightster has developed an innovative feature to enable editorial control over when ads are triggered in a live stream, ensuring that fashion loving audiences never miss a look.

Following the success of London Fashion Week, Rightster in partnership with InDigital Media, the BFC's official production company, will provide a similar digital solution to other major fashion weeks throughout the year. Charlie Muirhead, Rightster CEO commented:

"The BFC and London Fashion Week are leading the global fashion industry in using digital to give designers an effective way to increase their exposure. We are now in discussions with a number of other cities to install a similar system for their fashion weeks"

This season demonstrated that live video is now firmly established as an integral part of the London Fashion Week event, bringing the very best of British design talent to a mass online audience around the world.

About Rightster

Rightster is a leading provider of cloud-based software and services that simplify the distribution, marketing and monetisation of live and on demand premium video content. Rightster was founded by Charlie Muirhead (Orchestream plc, Nexagent) and its clients include the British Fashion Council, SNTV (Sports News Television), and ITN Productions. Rightster has a network of over 2,000 publishers worldwide, and partners with best in class ad sales partners and video technology companies.

http://www.rightster.com

About the British Fashion Council

The British Fashion Council (BFC) was set up in 1983 to promote British fashion internationally and co-ordinate this promotion through fashion weeks, exhibitions and showcasing events. The BFC now supports designers beginning at college level and extending to talent identification, business support and showcasing schemes to help British designer businesses develop their profiles and business globally and promote British fashion and its influential role in Creative Britain and Creative London. The BFC Colleges Council offers support to students through its MA Scholarship, links with industry through Design Competitions and Graduate Preview Day. Talent identification and business support schemes include the BFC/Elle Talent Launch Pad; BFC Fash/On Film sponsored by River Island; BFC Rock Vault sponsored by International Palladium Board; BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund; Estethica; Fashion Forward; NEWGEN sponsored by Topshop and NEWGEN MEN sponsored by Topman. Showcasing initiatives include London Fashion Week, LONDON showROOMS and the BFC/Bazaar Fashion Arts Foundation and the annual celebration of excellence in the fashion industry: the British Fashion Awards.

About InDigital Media

The InDigital Media Group was formed to deliver comprehensive film and photography production services to luxury brands and the fashion industry. A decade of experience covering global fashion events has seen the group expand its operations worldwide with offices now in New York, London, Amsterdam, Milan and Sydney. Creating a global footprint which covers all key and emerging fashion markets. InDigital has built one of the leading and most extensive production resources in the industry by providing quality content to the world's major brands, publication houses and broadcast syndicators.

Source: Rightster

Tabitha Goldstaub, +44(0)-207-183-4545

CHIC2012 Will Open With The Theme of "CROSSING"

CHIC2012 will open from Mar 26th-29th, 2012, with the theme of "CROSSING". (PRNewsFoto/China World Trade Center Co., Ltd)

22 Feb 2012 16:00 Africa/Lagos

CHIC2012 Will Open From Mar 26th-29th, 2012, With The Theme of "CROSSING"
CHIC2012: Crossing In Discovery

BEIJING, Feb. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- CHIC2012 is coming. The host of CHIC revealed that the registration procedure had begun, as well as the latest news about 2012 exhibition area. CHIC2012 will open from Mar 26th-29th, 2012, with the theme of "crossing". Higher service criteria will be asked in aspects of exhibitors, visitors, activities and field services to promote brand value.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120222/CN56081 )

Promotional art is displayed CHIC's website and the host of CHIC said: "Bright oil spray is used to form the tensioned and impressive picture on the CHIC2012 poster; the creativity, free-thinking and passion of the event has attracted people to CHIC for 20 years."

CHIC has developed with the growth of garment industry. Over 20 years, the total area of CHIC had been expanded from 10 thousand square meters to 110 thousand square meters with thousands of brands. It introduced the brands that have affected the Chinese fashion industry profoundly and witnessed the growth of others, as well as the development of wenzhou mode, women's wear of Shenzhen and Hangzhou.

CHIC has become the leader of the industry instead of a refraction of it. It has grown into a platform of business promotion, fashion experience and source communication. It is enlarged by holding tens of activities including Chinese Garment Forum, Chinese Fashion Release, and The Year Awards of Chinese Fashion Brands, among others. Over the past two years, CHIC has made a series of crossover trials, blending originalities into professional exhibitions by painting, installation and sculpture, molding CHIC into a fashion platform with a sense of fashion experience, leading trends, creativity and crossover enlightening.

China's twelfth five-year plan begins in 2012, which is a crucial time of strengthening for the Chinese garment industry. Since its establishment, CHIC has aimed to "lead the progress of China's garment industry, pushing forward the development of Chinese garment brands."

CHIC has neither increased as its scale nor expand its number of exhibitors aimlessly. The growth of the Chinese garment industry and its products will bring about brand new growth points and influence. Like what the deputy president of China National Garment Association Chen Dapeng said, the scale of development of CHIC has come into focus over in last two years; the next phrase will be the embodiments of service and value.

SOURCE China World Trade Center Co., Ltd

CONTACT: CONTACT: Cindy, +86-10-6505-1041, zhangdongmei@cwtc.com

Red Carpet Ready!

22 Feb 2012 16:52 Africa/Lagos

Red Carpet Ready!
QVC To Take Viewers Inside Hollywood As It Prepares for the Biggest Awards Show of the Year

WEST CHESTER, Pa., Feb. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Star-studded style is taking center stage as QVC returns to Beverly Hills with its much-anticipated The Buzz on the Red Carpet – Live from L.A. broadcast. This must-see style event is scheduled to air Friday, February 24 at 9 PM (ET) , live from the prestigious Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, and will feature Hollywood's hottest designers, stylists and celebrities. Among them will be Nicole Richie who will debut her bohemian-inspired fashion line, The Nicole Richie Collection.

The multimedia retailer will be joined by a veritable "who's who" of Tinseltown to give viewers the ultimate red carpet experience, complete with celebrity guests, Oscar-nominated star interviews and exciting, never-before-seen red carpet-inspired pieces. QVC will also be getting up-close and personal with the industry's top trendsetters as it joins them behind-the-scenes while they get ready for the biggest night in Hollywood. Fans will hear from their favorite stylists and stars as they share their personal red carpet inspirations, predictions, and inside secrets on how to achieve that special "award-winning" look.

"We are honored to, once again, team up with the most celebrated names in Hollywood to bring the glitz and glamour of awards season to our shoppers," said Claire Watts, CEO, QVC U.S. "What makes this broadcast truly exciting is that QVC will not only be unveiling the latest designs from the red carpet but will also be offering expert style and fashion advice from the stars and designers that help define these trends."

On hand to celebrate QVC's return to L.A. will be red carpet regulars Joan Rivers, Heidi Klum, the Kardashians, Kris Jenner and Wendy Williams, who will share their coveted secrets to looking stunning in the spotlight, while stylists-to-the-stars Cristina Ehrlich and Mark Zunino offer tips and tricks for transforming the season's top trends into everyday wear. L.A. Designer Rachel Pally and actress, television personality and red carpet fashion expert Lisa Rinna will be on hand to share their love of fashion and present their debut lines. Acclaimed jewelry designers Judith Ripka and Erica Courtney will also join the all-star lineup to put the finishing touches on the ravishing red carpet looks.

To add a distinct touch of Hollywood glam to the evening, QVC has enlisted some of its premier beauty and style experts, including Kate Somerville, Nick Chavez, Ken Paves, Chaz Dean, the bareMinerals team and QVC newcomer Kimora Lee Simmons, who is scheduled to debut her innovative anti-aging cream. Celebrity favorites Sarah Potempo and smashbox will also lend their expertise by creating all of the models' looks for The Buzz on the Red Carpet – Live from L.A. show.

A surely not-to-be-missed event, QVC's annual awards show celebration has so much exciting content and products that, this year, it is also granting fans exclusive VIP access to a special online preview currently available at QVC.com/redcarpet. Facebook fans are also encouraged to stop by the "Red Carpet Shop" on QVC's Facebook page to watch insider videos and shop for products, including an exclusive item from the Kardashian sisters' K-Dash Collection.

For additional information on The Buzz on the Red Carpet – Live from L.A., visit QVC.com/redcarpet/.

About QVC
QVC, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Interactive Corporation (Nasdaq: LINTA), is the world's leading video and ecommerce retailer. QVC is committed to providing its customers with thousands of the most innovative and contemporary beauty, fashion, jewelry and home products. Its programming is distributed to approximately 195 million homes worldwide. The company's website, QVC.com, is ranked among the top general merchant Internet sites. With operations in the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and Italy, West Chester, Pa.-based QVC has shipped more than a billion packages in its 25-year history. QVC, Q, and the Q Ribbon Logo are registered service marks of ER Marks, Inc.

SOURCE QVC, Inc.

CONTACT: Nikki DiGennaro, +1-484-701-8814, Nikki.J.DiGennaro@qvc.com, or Tara Hunter, +1-484-701-8163, Tara.Hunter@qvc.com

Web Site: http://www.qvc.com

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Runs On Solar Energy

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport dedicates 5.4-MW SunPower solar power system, which is expected to save $4.7 million in electricity costs over the next 20 years. (PRNewsFoto/SunPower Corp.)

22 Feb 2012 14:00 Africa/Lagos

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Dedicates 5.4-Megawatt SunPower Solar Power System

System Expected to Deliver Almost $5 Million in Savings Over 20 Years

PHOENIX, Feb. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and SunPower Corp. (Nasdaq: SPWR) are dedicating today a 5.4-megawatt high efficiency SunPower solar power system. The system is expected to generate the equivalent of 51 percent of the electricity demand at the airport's rental car center, two East Economy parking garages and toll plaza, saving $4.7 million over the next 20 years.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120222/AQ56030)

"With this SunPower system, Sky Harbor Airport is reinforcing its commitment to energy conservation and improving air quality in Arizona, while saving airport funds," said Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton. "Councilman Bill Gates has been championing this effort at the city and it's exciting to see it come to fruition."

"This SunPower system will reliably produce clean energy for years to come," said SunPower Director, Western Project Sales, Rick Whisman. "SunPower's technology will ensure that the system delivers energy over the long term, reducing operational expenses significantly with no upfront expenditure."

The project was facilitated in part by Arizona Public Service Company's (APS) Renewable Energy Incentive Program, which offers financial incentives to customers that help to offset up to 40 percent of the costs of installing solar energy.

The airport has a solar services agreement with SunPower, which designed and built the system, and is operating and maintaining it. The airport is hosting the system and buying electricity at rates that are competitive with retail electricity, providing a hedge against rising electricity costs with no capital investment. The renewable energy credits (RECs) associated with the energy produced by the system will be transferred to APS in fulfillment of the state's renewable energy standard and tariff.

At the airport, SunPower installed SunPower E20 solar panels, the most efficient solar panels on the market today, at three rooftop locations: the Rental Car Center and two buildings that comprise the East Economy Garages. System construction was completed in two months at the end of 2011.

According to estimates provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the system is expected to offset the production of more than 5500 tons of carbon dioxide per year, which is equivalent to removing 19,800 cars from Arizona's roads over the next 20 years.

About Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

Solar energy is only part of Sky Harbor's dedication to being green. The new Phoenix Sky Train, for example, will reduce roadway congestion and pollution and is expected to achieve a Silver rated LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification. It is one of the first projects of its kind to receive this certification. Stage 1 of the project is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 5,913 tons per year, and more than 50 percent of all construction demolition waste will be recycled or salvaged. The Phoenix Sky Train is expected to save the Phoenix Aviation Department over $10 million dollars in the first 20 years of operation.

About SunPower

SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) designs, manufactures and delivers the highest efficiency, highest reliability solar panels and systems available today. Residential, business, government and utility customers rely on the company's quarter century of experience and guaranteed performance to provide maximum return on investment throughout the life of the solar system. Headquartered in San Jose, Calif., SunPower has offices in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. For more information, visit www.sunpowercorp.com.

SOURCE SunPower Corp.

CONTACT: Deborah Ostreicher, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Deborah.Ostreicher@phoenix.gov, +1-602-273-3450; Ingrid Ekstrom, SunPower Corp., iekstrom@sunpowercorp.com, +1-510-260-8368

Web Site: http://www.sunpowercorp.com

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Hiring Managers Share the Most Memorable Interview Mistakes

22 Feb 2012 12:00 Africa/Lagos

Hiring Managers Share the Most Memorable Interview Mistakes in Annual CareerBuilder Survey

CHICAGO, Feb. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- In a labor market where a single open position can receive resumes from dozens, even hundreds of hopeful applicants, just getting to the interview stage is an accomplishment for many job seekers. But once one lands the elusive interview, what are the sure-fire ways to make the wrong impression?

In a nationwide CareerBuilder survey conducted by Harris Interactive© among more than 3,000 employers, hiring and human resource managers were asked to rate the biggest mistakes candidates make during interviews and share their most unusual interview memories.

Most Harmful Common Mistakes

Hiring managers say the following are the mistakes most detrimental to your interview performance:

Answering cell phone or texting: 77 percent
Appearing disinterested: 75 percent
Dressing inappropriately: 72 percent
Appearing arrogant: 72 percent
Talking negatively about current or previous employers: 67 percent
Chewing gum: 63 percent

Most Unusual Interviews

Several thousand hiring managers shared their most memorable or unusual interview experiences. Here are some of the highlights:

Candidate brought a "how to interview book" with him to the interview.
Candidate asked, "What company is this again?"
Candidate put the interviewer on hold during a phone interview. When she came back on the line, she told the interviewer that she had a date set up for Friday.
When a candidate interviewing for a security position wasn't hired on the spot, he painted graffiti on the building.
Candidate wore a Boy Scout uniform and never told interviewers why.
Candidate was arrested by federal authorities during the interview when the background check revealed the person had an outstanding warrant.
Candidate talked about promptness as one of her strengths after showing up ten minutes late.
On the way to the interview, the candidate passed, cut-off, and flipped his middle finger at the driver who happened to be the interviewer.
Candidate referred to himself in the third person.
Candidate took off his shoes during the interview.
Candidate asked for a sip of the interviewer's coffee.
Candidate told the interviewer she wasn't sure if the job offered was worth "starting the car for."

"It may seem unlikely that candidates would ever answer a cell phone during an interview, or wear shorts, but when we talk to hiring managers, we remarkably hear these stories all of the time," said Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources for CareerBuilder. "However, for most job seekers avoiding a big mistake isn't the issue – it's standing out from the crowd. A successful interview is a presentation that marries one's personality and professional experience to the needs of the hiring manager and the company. Knowing how to do that successfully can be difficult, but with preparation and practice, candidates can greatly improve their interview skills."

Haefner recommends the following interview tips:

Do your research: Before the interview, research the company online by looking at their press room for recent company news, the 'About Us' section for information about the company culture, and the list of products and services so you are familiar with all they do. Having this knowledge will allow you to easily answer and ask questions during the interview.

Keep it upbeat: Many job seekers may be experiencing tougher than usual job searches in this economy. During the interview, stay positive, emphasize what you learned from the situation and stay away from bad mouthing previous employers.

Prepare examples and ideas: Bring your resume to life by practicing specific anecdotes that highlight your accomplishments and how you dealt with challenges in your past roles. Be prepared to share ideas of what you would bring differently to the position. Doing so shows the hiring manager that you are already thinking strategically.

Survey Methodology

This survey was conducted online within the U.S. by Harris Interactive© on behalf of CareerBuilder among 3,023 hiring managers and human resource professionals (employed full-time, not self-employed, non-government) between November 9 and December 5, 2011 (percentages for some questions are based on a subset, based on their responses to certain questions). With a pure probability sample of 3,023, one could say with a 95 percent probability that the overall results have a sampling error of +/- 1.78 percentage points. Sampling error for data from sub-samples is higher and varies.

About CareerBuilder®

CareerBuilder is the global leader in human capital solutions, helping companies target and attract their most important asset - their people. Its online career site, CareerBuilder.com®, is the largest in the United States with more than 24 million unique visitors, 1 million jobs and 45 million resumes. CareerBuilder works with the world's top employers, providing resources for everything from employment branding and data analysis to recruitment support. More than 10,000 websites, including 140 newspapers and broadband portals such as MSN and AOL, feature CareerBuilder's proprietary job search technology on their career sites. Owned by Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE:GCI), Tribune Company and The McClatchy Company (NYSE:MNI), CareerBuilder and its subsidiaries operate in the United States, Europe, Canada and Asia. For more information, visit www.careerbuilder.com.

Media Contact:
CareerBuilder
Ryan Hunt
773-527-6923
ryan.hunt@careerbuilder.com
http://www.twitter.com/CareerBuilderPR

SOURCE CareerBuilder

Web Site: http://www.careerbuilder.com

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