Job Interview Mistakes10 common Job interview mistakes that can cost you the jobJob interview mistakes: I have spoken with many interviewers on what they see as the common mistakes a candidate can make that will cost them the job.
Here is the job interview mistakes list we have compiled ;
1- Not being prepared. The job market is very competitive. Therefore it is very important to give yourself the best chances by being prepared. Review your CV before the interview and know they key points by heart. Review the common interview questions and practice how you will answer them. Take the time to learn about the industry, company, division. Prepare, prepare, prepare.
2-Not researching the company before the interview. A job should not just be a salary. It should be a place where you can contribute and grow. The only way to know if your potential employer is a good fit for you is to do some research prior to the interview.Research can be done via the corporate websites, internet, industry, employees of the company… Take the time to get to know the company products, pipeline and culture. Many interviewers will ask you why you want to join their company. The only way to have a solid answer is to have done your research.
3- Not dressing appropriately. You can never be over-dressed for an interview but you can definitely be under-dressed! Remember that a good first impression is one of the most important, if not the most important aspect of landing that job. And, how you look is the most important aspect of a good first impression. Not dressing appropriately can cost you that job!
4- Not being able to communicate clearly and effectively. Open-ended questions allow the interviewer to evaluate your communication skills. What are they looking for? A-Did you answer the question? This seems straight forward but many times a candidate will loose track of the thoughts and not fully answer the question asked.B- Did you give clear examples? If an interviewer asks; “tell me about a time where you had a conflict with another employee”, don’t answer; “in that type of situation, I believe I would…”. The interviewer doesn’t want to know what you believe you would do but what you have done in the past. Take the time to consider the question and give a clear example of such a situation. C- Does the candidate answer concisely? Don’t take 10 minutes to answer a question that should take 1 minute. Be clear but also be concise. 5- Not keeping personal information to yourself. An interviewer may be friendly but don’t confuse him/her with a friend. You should keep most personal information to a minimum during the interview process. It is also a good idea to make sure your e-mail address and answering machine messages are professional. SexySue@yahoo... May seem cute to your friends. However, it will seem inappropriate to your potential employer.6- Being aggressive, arrogant or non-professional during the interview. This is pretty self-explanatory.. However many people confuse being aggressive/arrogant with being assertive/ self-confident. Make sure that your posture, responses and attitude are positive and assertive. Avoid over-doing the assertiveness- you may come off as a know-it-all. And, who wants to work with a know-it-all?
7- Saying unfavourable things about past employers. Okay, I know, we all have had bosses from hell. It does feel good to talk about them, right? Wrong… at least wrong during an interview. You can’t win this one. If you say your last boss was a micro-manager, you leave the doubt that you needed to be watched closely. If you say the company did not consider you for promotions, you leave the doubt that you are not promotable. Trust me, just be positive or vague. Why are you leaving your company? To gain other experiences, to advance your career with a great company…
8- Having a poor handshake. This goes back to first impressions. Make sure your handshake is firm not limp and not bone-crushing.
9- Avoiding eye-contact. Always make eye contact with your interviewer. Avoiding eye contact will make you look like you have something to hide. Not lying on that CV are you? No, then look the interviewer in the eye when answering the questions! 10- Not having questions prepared for the interviewer. Most interviews will end with the question; “do you have any questions for me”. Please prepare a few. If not you will look un-interested or un-prepared. Good questions include; what are the next steps in the interview process, what are you looking for in a candidate, when are you looking to fill this position, what type of training will be involved… Do not ask about salary on the first interview. Leave this to your salary negotiation once you have a job offer!>Make sure to avoid these common job interview mistakes! These job interview mistakes could cost you your perfect job.
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