It’s very easy to make mistakes when you attend an interview. Sometimes even the simplest change can lead to mistakes, and that’s exactly what you have to keep in mind. The reality is that mistakes can either make or break your chances of getting that job. You need to be extremely careful, otherwise you will need to go through other interviews. Here are some of the most common mistakes people tend to make as they attend an interview.
1. Taking a Lot of Time to Answer Questions
Interviewers expect you to reply quickly. If you take a lot of time to answer, that might be a problem. After all, the interviewer has to deal with a lot of people during that day. So keeping them busy will just lead to overtime and more frustration on their side. Be succinct and remember to stick to the main info and not take a lot of time to reply.
2. Not Doing Their Research
Ideally, you want to learn as much as you can about that business and what they offer. Knowing info about them will help quite a bit, since you can ask proper questions which make you stand out. Plus, reading as much as you can about the job will also let you know whether you are a good fit. Knowing how to present yourself is also important, and if you do your research, that’s totally worth it.
3. Not Arriving on Time
That’s an issue because if you arrive later or very early, that might end up messing the schedule of the interviewer. It makes sense to try and arrive on time because it shows a sign of professionalism and respect. Plus, you won’t waste time yourself, and your interviewer will appreciate your punctuality. That means it’s the best of both worlds.
4. Wearing Inappropriate Attire
Another blunder you can do is to have an inappropriate attire. Obviously, you want to ensure that you look the part and you are prepared for the interview. Wearing inappropriate or casual dress, can be a huge issue. It’s a great idea if you just avoid any problem there, and doing that can indeed make a difference here.
5. You’re Not Allowing the Interviewer to Speak
Don’t get us wrong, speaking during an interview is very helpful and it allows you to express your ideas. The downside is that if you speak too much, that’s not ok for the interviewer. You need to check the most common interview questions and also prepare some of your own. You should listen to the interviewer and only reply when asked. It certainly helps quite a bit, and the experience as a whole is second to none.
6. Speaking Poorly About Your Previous Employers
One of the mistakes people make without even knowing is they talk poorly about their previous employer. Consider that if you speak poorly about your previous employers, the interviewer might think you will also speak poorly about them when you go to a new workplace. It’s not a good idea to do this, as it reflects rather badly on yourself and your attitude. Gossiping and speaking poorly about previous employers shows bad etiquette. It’s certainly one of those things people should avoid, so if you do this or wanted to speak negatively about previous businesses you worked for, just stay away from that. It will not serve you well, and it can lead to a lot of challenges down the line.
“Success occurs when opportunity meets preparation”
– Zig Ziglar
Bonus point: Your Body Language Is Poor
It’s a good idea to control your body language and how you present yourself in front of the interviewer. Remember that the interviewer will not only look at the way you are dressed and how you speak, but also at your body language. Sit up straight, maintain a good posture and eye contact during the interview. It’s also recommended to smile and use cues like head nodding or anything similar to show you are listening to them and understanding what they are saying.
Other Mistakes You Might Make
These are only a few of the many mistakes people tend to make during an interview. Not asking questions or the opposite, making questions way too personal is a bad thing to do. You also want to avoid focusing too much on yourself, and instead you may want to listen more. There are other things like not showing confidence in your skills or while talking about your achievements. These actions can create a very negative impression on the interviewer, so you want to avoid them. The same thing can be said about not paying attention to the interviewer or losing your focus.
We believe it’s important to ensure you prepare yourself for the interview and focus on it as much as you can. Interviews can be difficult and sometimes very demanding, but you need to prepare for them. Knowing how to present yourself, how/when to speak, and also what mistakes you need to avoid can make a huge difference. We hope this article gives you a good insight into what you need to avoid doing during an interview and how to approach those situations properly!