Interview Mistakes You Need to Avoid

[Reyed Mia (Apprentice, DIU)]

Interview Mistakes You Need to Avoid

What shouldn't you do when interviewing? Here are the top ten interview mistakes, blunders, and errors a candidate for employment can make. Spend time preparing to interview so these don't happen to you!

What shouldn't you do when interviewing? Here are the top ten interview mistakes, blunders, and errors a candidate for employment can make. Spend time preparing to interview so these don't happen to you!


Top 10 Interview Mistakes to Avoid
1. Don't Prepare
Not being able to answer the question "What do you know about this company?" might just end your quest for employment, at least with this employer. Background information including company history, locations, divisions, and a mission statement are available in an "About Us" section on most company websites. Review it ahead of time, then print it out and read it over just before your interview to refresh your memory. Also check the company's LinkedIn page and Facebook page, if they have one. You should be prepared to answer the most common interview questions and know which of your qualifications and experience are most relevant to the position.

Avoid This Mistake: How to Prepare for an Interview | How to Research Companies Prior to Interviews
2. Dress Inappropriately
Dressing inappropriately can work both ways — outfits can too casual or too formal for a position.

Calibrate your interview outfit to the industry and company style. You will certainly want to wear a suit if you are interviewing for professional position. When interviewing for a summer job at your local theme park or as a lifeguard, though, a suit just doesn't make sense. Instead, dress in neat and casual attire.


If you aren't sure what to wear, visit the organization and watch employees coming in and out of the office to see what they are wearing.

Avoid This Mistake: How to Dress for An Interview | What Not to Wear to a Job Interview
3. Poor Communication Skills
It's important to communicate well with everyone you meet in your search for employment. It is, however, most important to positively connect with the person who might hire you. Shake hands, make eye contact, exude confidence, engage the person you are speaking with, and you will let the interviewer know that you are an excellent candidate for this position — before you even answer an interview question.

Avoid This Mistake: Take the Time to Practice Interviewing | Body Language Tips for Interviewees
4. Too Much Communication
Believe it or not, a recent candidate for employment, who, by the way, didn't get the job, didn't hesitate to answer his cell phone when it rang during an interview. Leave the phone behind or at least turn it off before you enter the building. Same goes for coffee, food and anything else other than you, your resume, your job application, and your list of references. They don't belong at an interview.

Avoid This Mistake: What to Bring to an Interview

5. Talk Too Much
There is nothing much worse than interviewing someone who goes on and on and on... The interviewer really doesn't need to know your whole life story. Keep your answers succinct, to-the-point, and focused. Don't ramble - simply answer the question.

Avoid This Mistake: Use Non Verbal Communication to Impress
6. Don't Talk Enough

It's really hard to communicate with someone who answers a question with a word or two. I remember a couple of interviews where I felt like I was pulling teeth to get any answers from the candidate. It wasn't pleasant. So, even though you shouldn't talk too much, you do want to be responsive and fully answer the question as best you can.

Avoid This Mistake: Review Proper Interview Etiquette
7. Fuzzy Facts

Even if you have submitted a resume when you applied for the job, you may also be asked to fill out a job application.

Make sure you know the information you will need to complete an application including dates of prior employment, graduation dates, and employer contact information.

Avoid This Mistake: Be Prepared to Describe Your Employment History
8. Give the Wrong Answer
Make sure you listen to the question and take a moment to gather your thoughts before you respond. Like the following candidate, you'll knock yourself out of contention if you give the wrong answer.

The interviewer had completely described a sales and marketing position to the candidate. She emphasized that cold calling and prospecting were the most important skills and experiences needed for the position. The candidate responded to the question about what she did or didn't like to do in sales, with these words: "I hate to do cold calling and prospecting, and I'm not good at it." That response ensured that she wouldn't get the job!

Avoid This Mistake: Review Sample Interview Questions and Prepare Responses
9. Badmouthing Past Employers
Your last boss was an idiot? Everyone in the company was a jerk? You hated your job and couldn't wait to leave? Even if it's true don't say so. I cringed when I heard someone ranting about the last company she worked for. That company happened to be our largest customer and, of course, I wasn't going to hire someone who felt that way about the company and everyone who worked there.

It's sometimes a smaller world than you think and you don't know who your interviewer might know, including that boss who is an idiot... You also don't want the interviewer to think that you might speak that way about his or her company if you leave on terms that aren't the best.

Avoid This Mistake: How to Answer Interview Questions About Bosses
10. Forget to Follow Up
Afraid you didn't make the best impression? Are you sure that you aced the interviewed? Either way, be sure to follow up with a thank you note reiterating your interest in the position and the company.

Avoid This Mistake: How to Follow Up After an Interview
Finally, even if you do flub the interview, don't take it to heart. I don't think there is anyone hasn't blown an interview or two. If it happens, look at it like it just wasn't meant to be, learn from your mistakes and move on to the next opportunity.


Source: https://www.thebalance.com/top-job-interview-mistakes-2061340