Rushing to fill awkward pauses between interview questions is the biggest pitfall for interviewees, according to research by staffing service provider OfficeTeam.

The survey also shows that 60% of executives take into account the opinions of assistants, secretaries and PAs when evaluating new hires.

OfficeTeam’s report includes five pointers for candidates at interview, including getting on the right side of any office assistants you meet at interview - such as secretaries and PAs - because they may have an influence on the hiring manager’s decision.

Filling in awkward pauses between questions was seen as the biggest interviewee downfall. Phil Booth, UK managing director of OfficeTeam, says: “Many job candidates may not recognise that hiring managers can be as anxious as they are during interviews because of the pressure to find the right person.”