Top 10 Things People Do Wrong at Interviews, And How To Avoid
Them
A face-to-face interview is the most stressful part of the job
search for many individuals, but it is also a critical component
of the recruiting process. Up until this point, you have been
able to hide behind your resume and cover letter. As the
selection process starts to draw to a close, though, it's time
to impress the hiring team. A large part of a successful
interview is avoiding potential pitfalls that can undermine your
ability to impress the hiring team.
The top ten critical mistakes that people make when interviewing
for a position are:
Arriving late to the interview
Arriving late makes a strong negative first impression and will
raise questions in the interviewer's mind about your reliability
and punctuality. Always ask for directions to the interview site
and double-check a map so that you know where you are going.
Don't forget to allow extra time for traffic and other
unforeseeable events.
Poor dress attire and grooming
Remember that professional companies are looking to hire
professional individuals, not the beach bum who just shook the
loose sand from his hair. Dress conservatively in a well-fitting
suit and keep jewelry, makeup, and fragrances to a minimum. It's
also important to always take a shower, brush your teeth, and
comb your hair before an interview as well to present to clean,
polished image.
Failure to do research about the company prior to the interview
Show you are interested in the company for by doing some outside
research before the interview. This attention to detail sends a
clear message to the interviewer that you are serious about the
position and are willing to go the extra mile. This research
will also help you determine if the company's industry,
products/services, and culture are a god match for you.
Failure to give specific examples of your experience and measure
your skills against the position
Interviewers want to know more than just the bare bones of your
experience. They are interested in the specifics of task how you
performed, challenges you have faced, and the methods you have
used to overcome those challenges. This is especially true of
behavioral interviewers. Take the time to give the interviewer
specific examples of how you have performed and how these
collaborate to the duties of the position. If you can draw a
clear parallel between your work experience and the position you
are interviewing for, you have a much higher chance of being
successful in the interviewing process.
Not taking the opportunity to ask intelligent questions about
the company and/or position
The interviewing process is not just an opportunity for the
company to evaluate your fit for the position; it's also your
opportunity to evaluate how well the company and the position
match your ideal job. Asking questions not only helps you
determine how well-suited you are for the position (and it for
you), but also clearly indicates that you have done some basic
research about the organization. Don't ask questions just for
the sake of asking questions. Intelligent, poorly-worded
questions can frequently do more damage to your reputation than
remaining silent.
Failure to practice
Even the best public speakers need to take the time to practice
delivering and answering detailed questions. The more you
practice, the more comfortable you will get with your answers
and the material, allowing for a much smoother delivery.
Talking too much (or not at all)
The best answers are succinct, but detailed. Interviewees who
ramble on and on come across as trying to compensate for some
weakness, while those individuals who just sit there and stare
appear as though they are in shellshock (and maybe in over their
heads). Neither of these scenarios is ideal in an interview
situation. Choose your words carefully and sparingly, but don't
be a mute.
Bad-mouthing previous managers or companies
One of the fastest ways to turn off an interviewer is to
bad-mouth your current or previous employer. This raises
questions about your loyalty and integrity, and labels you as
unhappy and a complainer. Even if you worked in a sweatshop with
no lights, running water, or meal breaks for 18 hours a day,
keep all negative commentary to yourself.
Fail to explain why they are a good fit for the position (and
the company)
If you leave it up to the interviewer to evaluate if you are a
solid fit for the company, then you risk the chance that they
might not make the decision you'd like to hear. Make it easy for
the interviewer for hire you by connecting your experiences,
talents, and strengths to the job description.
Don't state that you want the job
Once the interview has concluded, if you want the job, let the
interviewer know that you are still interested in the position.
Since the interview is as much about your evaluation of the
company and the position as it is them evaluating you, don't
assume the interviewer knows you still want the job. Reiterate
your interest and inquire about the next step in the hiring
process.