Before you go into your interview, preparation is a must. To nail the interaction and questions with flying colors, you must know what job interview mistakes to avoid. More importantly, you should know how to counteract those fumbles.
So, keep scrolling to see our list of ten common mistakes to avoid and ten things you should be doing in your interview. Follow our guidelines, and we guarantee your chances of getting the job will be boosted.
Before we dive into the know-how behind a successful interview, let’s take a look at a few stats. Some of these facts might surprise you- or change the way you conduct yourself in an interview forever.
The Stats Behind Job Interviews
As a career professional, statistics and data will always be your friend. Stats show the hidden, calculable side of life and can reveal more than just simple figures within the data. It can reveal behaviors, actions, and an entire psychological foundation behind what the statistic represents.
These quick stats on job interviews were taken from CareerGeek.
- Apparently, 33% of bosses claim they have already made a hiring decision within the first minute and a half of the interview. That was taken from a survey of 2,000 bosses.
- Fun fact: an average interview length is about 40 minutes. From our personal experience, the time can range anywhere between 15-60 minutes.
- Wearing bright clothing is a turnoff to most corporate employers.
- 65% of bosses said a prospective employee’s clothing could be the deciding factor.
- When making a first impression, 55% revolves around how one dresses, acts, and walks through the door.
Based on those stats, you can probably guess what the common mistakes involve. First impressions are a weighty deciding factor on if you get the job or not. And it is about more than wearing the right outfit and printing your resume on expensive-looking paper.
10 Job Interview Mistakes to Avoid
Some people believe there is no right or wrong way to do something. However, when it comes to interviews, that mentality has some flaws. We’re here to tell you that, yes, there is a right way to conduct yourself during the interview and recruiting process.
1. Not Smiling
Smiling is the simplest non-verbal of them all, and it requires minimal effort or energy to do. According to CareerGeek’s survey of 2,000 bosses, 38% of them said “lack of smile” was a big no-no. Your potential employer, or even the recruiter, wants to feel confident when they make that hiring decision.
Smiling relays positive energy– psychologically- and at least gives the appearance that you are happy to be there. That you are enjoying yourself. Not smiling, at least once or twice, sends signals that you don’t want to be at the interview and would rather be anywhere else.
2. Having Little to No Company Knowledge
How many times have you gone into an interview and said, “I’ll just wing it”? Now, how many times have you landed the job with a “just wing it” mentality? If that method has been successful, we salute your charisma and on-the-fly abilities. However, for the average person, winging it will never work.
Why? Companies want to know that you are genuinely interested in working for them. They want to know you’ve taken the time to research their organization and learn the basics. Having little to no knowledge about who you could potentially work for is a turnoff.
3. No Eye Contact
The eyes are the true window to the soul. Going back to that same survey, 67% of bosses said that failure to make eye contact was a nonverbal mistake made during the interview. If you want to connect on a human level with anyone, looking into the eyes is a must.
Eye contact reveals everything. Don’t believe us? Try looking into the eyes of your friends or loved ones and see how it feels- internally. Eye contact also relays trust, and without trust, you won’t be getting hired.
4. Arriving Late
In the age of digital meetings and Zoom calls, a late arrival might not seem like a big deal. However, showing up late to an in-person or virtual interview is still a huge mistake that is more common than recruiters would like. When you arrive late, you are telling the other party (non-verbally) that you have poor time management skills.
It can also be considered an insult to the other person, depending on their personality. Tardiness is usually an instant red mark against you. If you have a genuine excuse for being late, ALWAYS relay that information.
5. Checking Your Phone
If nothing else, please never check your phone during any type of formal meeting or interview. This is a common mistake especially made by young professionals. Before you even set foot in the building or turn on your video camera, ensure that your phone is turned off or set to silent.
Keep your phone completely out of sight unless the interviewer EXPLICITLY states you will need it. Of course, the opposite goes for phone interviews. You’ll obviously need to have it on standby in waiting for their call.
6. Being a Negative Nancy
No one likes to be around a negative person. So, save your previous job complaints and bad experiences for another conversation. When you speak negatively about a past employer, position, or co-worker, that gives off a bad impression of YOU.
We have all had an unpleasant experience in the job world at some point or another. Despite this, always frame your responses in a good light to make that first impression as positive as possible. If you complain or speak harshly of someone, it might make your employer think you are difficult to get along with. It might also make them less likely to trust you.
7. Forgetting to Bring Your Resume
Unless this interview is happening on-spot at a recruiting event or hiring fair, your employer will already have a copy of the resume you submitted. Now, this does not mean you shouldn’t keep a resume on hand. Forgetting to bring a hard copy of your resume is a common job interview mistake to avoid.
It is always possible that your interviewer will ask for an additional copy of your CV. Either to share with others or to make notes on during the questioning session. Simply printing a few extra copies- just in case- will demonstrate organization and an ability to think ahead.
8. Not Preparing Questions to Ask
You are a brand-new face to the company. You’ve probably browsed the job listing and the company website at least twice. So, what does that tell you? You don’t have all the information you need- or want. It is impossible for a job listing to address every single question you have.
So, the interview itself is your prime opportunity to gather detailed insight about the position, role, company, and more. Use this moment wisely. When you don’t ask questions, it also leaves the interviewer wondering how serious you actually are about the job. Not asking any questions is a mistake you can avoid simply by preparing ahead of time.
9. Overselling Yourself
Of course, you want to show your desire to work for the prospective company. But do you want to overdo it? Of course not. People oversell themselves- their passion, abilities, skills, interest in the role- without even realizing it.
Don’t come on too strong, gush, or pour your heart out to the point where it might be seen as desperate. You never want your interviewer to think you are just desperate to get the job. Reign in those strong emotions and transform them into professional points about why you’re a good fit for the role.
10. Forgetting the Interviewer’s Name
While it is likely the interviewer will introduce themselves again, it is best practices to remember their name. Failing to remember their name, especially at the end of the conversation, might send mixed signals.
Imagine that you met up with an old friend, and the first thing they did was address you by name. It would make you feel important and have positive emotions towards that person. You want your interviewer to feel the same way, so make an effort to address them by name upon greeting and concluding the conversation.
10 Things You Should Be Doing in Your Interview
Now that you know what to avoid in your interview, let’s turn to a more positive route. You should be doing these ten things every time you meet with a recruiter or hiring manager. It doesn’t matter if this is your first interview or the final round. Enact these best practices and tips to boost your chances of getting hired.
1. Smile
A simple smile makes a world of difference. Smiling is contagious- really! A smile makes you more attractive to others, reduces stress, and instantly emits happiness and positivity. All of the above is helpful during your interview. It can also trick the brain into an elevated state, so smile before your interview and especially throughout.
2. Watch Your Posture
Another critical thing you should be doing in your interview is watching your body posture. 33% of 2,000 bosses think bad posture is a no-no. So, try to become more aware of how you are presenting yourself. Sit up straight with your shoulders back and keep your head level with the other person’s eyes. Good body posture also makes you feel confident.
3. Make Eye Contact
This is a non-verbal best practice for interviews and beyond. Always make direct eye contact with the interviewer. Hold their gaze for an appropriate amount of time, and keep your gaze soft and warm. You want to welcome the other person with your eyes, not deter them. Your potential employer will also be more likely to trust you if you make eye contact.
4. Wear Neutral or Calming Clothing
Put on your best corporate outfit. Dress the part, and you will feel the part- confident, successful, and appealing. In a formal meeting, bright colors and wild patterns draw attention away from the important things- your personality, charisma, and intellect. Wear neutral, soft, or calming clothing that looks sophisticated and makes you feel your best too.
5. Show Personality
In the corporate world, there is this undercurrent of “sameness” that gives corporate America the reputation of being boring or bland. Whatever the case may be, in an interview, you always want to show your true personality. You could potentially be working with that company one day, so it is crucial that they get to know YOU for who you are. And vice versa.
6. Bring a Portfolio
Remember how we mentioned a job interview mistake was forgetting to bring resume copies? Well, you can avoid that by using a professional portfolio. Think of a briefcase, portfolio pad, or folder that looks career-appropriate and can hold your documents. Bringing a portfolio also demonstrates organization and professionalism. Keep copies of your updated resume in there at all times.
7. Ask Questions
The quickest way to show anyone you have an interest in them or what they are doing is by asking questions. So, prepare for the interview ahead of time by writing down questions you want to ask. Even if you don’t have any specific concerns in mind, jot down at least five questions. The last thing you want to do is NOT show serious intent by failing to ask questions.
8. Send a Follow-up Email
You should be sending your interviewer a follow-up email after the conversation concludes. Sending an email is polite and shows appreciation and serious intent. It is also best practice in the corporate world. Make sure you include the name of the interviewer and thank them for discussing the role with you. Bonus points if you mention a specific topic you talked about.
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