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 stand behind your resume and cover letter. However, as you move through the selection process you must impress the hiring team. A large part of a successful interview is avoiding potential pitfalls that can undermine your ability to impress them. Here are the top ten critical mistakes that people make when interviewing.
1. 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 obtain directions to the interview site and double-check to ensure those directions are correct. There are various tools you can use including Google maps, Mapquest, and Waze. Also take note of any security check-in or parking instructions provided by the company that may factor into your timing. Don’t forget to allow extra time for traffic and other unforeseeable events.
2. Poor dress attire and grooming
Dress conservatively 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.
3. Failure to do research about the company prior to the interview
Show you are knowledgeable and interested in the company by doing some 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 industry, products/services, and culture are a good match for you.
4. 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 how you performed, challenges you have faced, and the methods you have used to overcome those challenges. 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 probability of being successful in the interviewing process.
5. 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 their impression of you than remaining silent.
6. 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. If possible, find someone you trust and engage in a mock interview. Mock interviews are an excellent way to practice in a realistic scenario and receive feedback on your responses.
7. 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 not prepared. Neither of these scenarios is ideal in an interview situation. Choose your words carefully, stay on topic, and ensure they are succinct when discussing your experiences.
8. Bad-mouthing previous managers or companies
This can be tempting, but don’t do it!! 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.
9. 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 to hire you by connecting your experiences, talents, and strengths to the job description.
10. 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 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.
– Wishing you continued success!