THE COMMON

MISTAKES ONE CAN

MADE DURING JOB
INTERVIEW
A job interview is one of the first impressions
employers get of you. It's a chance to further
elaborate on your skills, experience and qualifications
relevant to the role you're interviewing for. By
knowing interview etiquette, you can avoid common
interview mistakes and increase your chances of
getting hired.
In this article, we share 14 of the most common
interview mistakes and what you should do instead.
Why is it important to know common job
interview mistakes?
Knowing common job interview mistakes is
important to better prepare for your interview.
Knowing these mistakes can help you think of
strategies to show interviewers that you are taking
the interview seriously and can act appropriately in
professional settings. Learning what to do and how
to behave during an interview can help employers
see you as a confident and qualified candidate.
Common job interview mistakes
It is easy to fall into a defeated mental place when making an easily avoidable job
interview mistake, which can be a complex state of mind to turn around. Here are
common mistakes people make during interviews and what you should do instead:
•Arriving late or too early
•Inappropriate attire
•Using your cellphone
•Not doing company research
•Losing your focus
•Unsure of resume facts
•Talking too much
•Speaking poorly of previous employers
•Not preparing for common questions
•Focusing too much on yourself
•Having no questions to ask
•Asking overly personal questions
•Poor body language
•Neglecting to follow up
Arriving late or too early
It's important to arrive at your interview on time or slightly
early. The earliest you should arrive is 10 or 15 minutes early
so the interviewer can finish their work and feel prepared to
talk to you. Arriving on time shows the interviewer that you
are punctual and value their time.
Inappropriate attire
Always look professional for an interview, even for a company
with a casual dress code. Wearing formal business attire
shows employers that you are serious about this role and
have a sense of professionalism. Feel confident and prepared
by choosing your outfit and ironing it well in advance.
Using your cellphone
Rather than looking at your cellphone in the waiting room,
read over your resume to prepare for your interview. Before
meeting the interviewer, make sure your phone is completely
turned off. This can help you stay focused and free of
distractions during the interview.
Not doing company research
As soon as an employer reaches out to you for an
interview, you should research the company
extensively. Learn who their clients are, what they
specialize in and what their work culture looks like. Be
able to discuss specific details of projects listed on
their website. Prepare to answer the question, "Why
are you interested in our company?"
Losing your focus
Make sure to sleep well and eat a nutritious meal
before your interview. It's important to appear
refreshed and focused in your interview. Make sure to
listen to everything the interviewer says so you know
which questions to ask them and what information you
should share. Make an effort to appear enthusiastic
about the position. Use active listening skills to show
you're interested in what the interviewer is saying.
Unsure of resume facts
Get to know the details of your resume before your
interview. Know things such as prior employment,
previous tasks and important dates. Bring a printed
copy of your resume in a professional-looking folder,
so you can read it over while you wait for your
interview. You could also bring an extra copy for the
interviewer if they need one.
Video: WARNING! Tell Me About Yourself Interview: Bad Answers to AVOID
In this video, Jenn shares the best strategy for answering “Tell me about yourself” by
avoiding these top five mistakes.
Practice answering interview questions succinctly. Only include information
relevant to the interviewer's question and the role you're interviewing for. Keep
talking about your personal life to a minimum and keep the conversation
professional. Give the interviewer a chance to speak and use nonverbal cues
such as nodding and eye contact to show them you're listening.
Speaking poorly of previous employers
Instead of speaking poorly of previous employers, share what you learned from
your work experiences. Focus on the skills you developed and what you plan to
do in your new role. If they ask you questions such as, "Tell me about a time
you dealt with a difficult coworker" or "How do you handle working with people
you disagree with?" try to find a way to answer these questions positively. This
shows interviewers that you have conflict-resolution skills and can work well
with others.
Not preparing for common questions
Before your interview, search for common questions for your particular job title
and other general interview questions. Prepare answers for each of these
questions. Having responses in mind can help you appear more confident and
qualified. Practice your responses by asking a family member or friend to do a
mock interview with you.
Focusing too much on yourself
Rather than solely focusing on how this role can benefit
you, consider the value you can add to the company.
This shows interviewers that you are committed to their
company's mission and goals. Explain what you
contributed to your previous roles and share what
qualities help you collaborate with your coworkers.
Having no questions to ask
At the end of your interview, the interviewer will likely
ask you if you have any questions for them. Before your
interview, come up with a few questions to ask the
interviewer. Ensure these questions aren't answered by
their website or social media pages. When it's time to
ask your questions, ensure this information wasn't
already covered in the interview. Throughout your
interview, you might even be able to make a mental note
of some questions you want them to answer at the end.
Asking overly personal questions
Make sure the questions you are asking the interviewer are professional and
appropriate. Save learning more personal details about the interviewer for later if
you get the job. Focus on questions about the company and, if you want to ask
questions about the interviewer, make sure they are related to the company or
the role in question. Here are some helpful questions you can ask during an
interview:
•What is the company culture like here?
•How would you describe the management style here?
•What is your favorite aspect of this company?
•What are the company's most important goals right now?
•What would my average workday look like in this role?
•Who would I directly report to?
•Can you tell me a little more about the team I would be working on?
Poor body language
When you enter your interview, greet the interviewer with a firm handshake while
making eye contact. Say something like, "Hello, I'm [name]. It's very nice to meet
you." Then, once you sit down, ensure you sit up straight in your chair. Practice
keeping a good posture before your interview. Make sure to keep regular eye
contact throughout the interview and smile to show your enthusiasm about the
job. Use head nodding and other cues to show you're listening as the interviewer
speaks.