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. Looking sloppy or
having a stain on your clothing.
Wrinkled
or stained clothing will be noticed a mile away. No matter how nice the rest of
your outfit is, if you have a stain on one part, it will ruin your entire look.
Plus, it’s a dead giveaway for you lack of attention to detail. If you’ve ever
hear the saying, “how you do anything is how you do everything,” it could hold
more true in this situation.
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.
This
includes your resume as well. If the interviewer asks you about a previous job
you have listed on your resume and you can’t remember because it was so long
ago, you will only make yourself look bad and unprepared. Brush up on
everything that you have listed on your resume – it’s fair game for your
interview.
3. Talking about salary
too soon.
Don’t
jump the gun regarding salary. Wait until the interviewer gets to know you a
bit and or asks you about it before you start talking about it. If you only
want the job because of the money, it will show and hurt your chances of
getting the job. Most often there are several candidates who are competing for
the same position you are. The company isn’t going to give the job to the
person who is only in it for the money.
While
it is completely reasonable to negotiate your salary, make sure you do it at
the right time.
4. Being late.
Always
be on time for your interview. Make sure you have the right directions and
allow plenty of travel time including traffic to get there. If you are late for
an interview, your employer might see that you will probably be late showing up
for work. Of course, there are some exceptional situations where you might be
late and if one of those arises, make sure you call and let the interviewer
know.
5. Lying.
Always
tell the truth about your past job history and anything that is asked of you at
your job interview. If you lie, it will be a matter of time before the employer
finds out.
6. Gossiping about a
former boss.
Nothing
will make you look worse than talking badly about a former boss or place of
employment. If you talk badly about your previous employer, chances are you
will talk badly about this company if you get hired. Nobody likes a gossip.
Plus you never know who knows who so it’s best to keep your personal business
personal.
7. Having a bad odor.
Bringing
a strong odor into an interview can be very distracting. Don’t wear any perfume
or smoke a cigarette right before your interview. You never know what kind of
allergies the interviewer may have and this is not a great way to find out. Try
not to smell like anything so your interviewer can concentrate on you instead
the smell.
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 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.
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