There are certain common job interview mistakes that you want to do your best to avoid. Making any one of these can hurt your chances of getting the job or have the employer hire another candidate who didn’t make these common job interview mistakes.
1. Dress as smart as you can afford. Do not look like a slob who couldn’t care less. Ensure that you look as if you could easily fit into the organisation and will provide a safe pair of hands on day one. Stand out with your answers (for the right reasons). Don’t stand out because of your attire (for the wrong reasons)
2. Not being prepared with your questions and answers. Before you go into your interview, you should always go over some questions you think you could be asked. While you don’t want your answers to sound rehearsed, you definitely want to sound prepared. If you are asked a question and don’t give an intelligent answer to it, the employer will most likely move on to the next candidate.
Make certain that your resume reflects well on you as well. It should be laid out so that the reader can quickly find the information that they need. Use a title page and page numbers. Make sure that you have studied the material within it, so that you can respond well to any queries that may arise from it.
3. Don’t talk about money too early. It will come across as if you are more focussed on what the job will give you and not enough on what you can provide for the organisation. You need to appear like a candidate who will be prepared to share a ton of value in return for a decent salary.
It is fair enough that you will want to discuss your remuneration – just do it at the right point and in the best way.
4. Never be late. You have to make sure that you have got a note of the correct directions and possible work arounds. Print out any relevant maps. Get up and out of your house in plenty of time to arrive punctually. If you are late to get there, make sure that you phone ahead to warn the panel.
5. Never lie. Somehow the truth is likely to be revealed – either through the words that you utter or in your body language. A decent interviewer is likely to spot this and your chances will be fatally damaged.
6. It isn’t very clever to start gossiping about your previous company and the bosses there on the day of your interview. You need to focus on looking as if you are a professional and trustworthy colleague and not a snitch who is likely to spill the beans on them as well.
7. Don’t smell bad either. You don’t want anything to distract the interviewers attention from you delivering your message – least of all your smell. Do not wear strong cologne or perfume and do not eat a lot of garlic in your food the night before.
8. Being fidgety. If you are fidgety and anxious, the interviewer will sense your lack of confidence. Before you go into your interview, take a few minutes to collect your thoughts and take a few deep breaths. Make a point to make eye contact with the interviewer to create a good non-verbal connection.
9. Not listening carefully. If you don’t listen to what questions the interviewer is asking you, you are basically saying that what you think is more important that the question they are asking. Make sure to listen to exactly what they are asking and answer the right question. If you don’t listen carefully during the interview, you will probably will not be great at following direction on the job.
10. Appearing desperate. Interviewers can pick up on this right away. It’s ok to be enthusiastic about wanting the job, but there are limits. Keep your emotions out of the interview and focus on the skills and experience you can bring to the table.
If you want more help with your interviews then check out the great resources at this consultant interview training site