8 Job Interview Mistakes To Avoid
written by UltraJob
The interview is a critical part of the job search process and also
the one where most job seekers have trouble. There is plenty of
advice around on how to navigate thru an interview successfully. This
article has put together some simple, but crucial items that job
seekers should definitely plan on NOT doing!
====================================
JOB INTERVIEWING - 8 MISTAKES YOU MUST AVOID!
====================================
1. - DON'T SHOW UP LATE.
There is no easier way to lose points with a prospective employer
than to show up late. First impressions do last. And unfortunately,
showing up late screams things like “I am unreliable” or “your time is
not important to me”. Is this what you want a prospective employer to
think before you even have a chance to utter a word? Make it a point
to try to be early to every interview. That way, bad weather, traffic
and that last minute phone call stand less chance of ruining your
entrance. If the unforeseen 18-wheeler does happen to dump 10 tons of
tomatoes across the interstate, upon arrival, apologize first thing,
offer a quickexplanation and move on. (Ideally you would have called
from your cell phone as soon as you caught sight of the delay.)
2. - DON'T ACT DISINTERESTED.
No matter what the circumstance never act disinterested during an
interview. If 10 minutes into the meeting you become certain that
nothing on the planet could convince you to take a job with the
company continue to pay attention and act like you care about the
conversation. Remember that the interviewer does not exist in a
vacuum. He or she has friends, relatives, and associates who may
influence future job opportunities. If you behave poorly, the
interviewer will remember and will share the story of you and your
unprofessional behavior with others. Haven’t you shared bad job
search experiences with people close to you? The interviewer is
probably no different.
3. - DON'T BE UNPREPARED.
Being prepared has many facets. Interviewers expect you to know
something about the company and the position you are seeking. Having
this knowledge makes you appear both motivated and truly interested.
So make sure you do your research! Excellent sources of information
include, the Internet, periodicals and people already in the field.
Another facet of being prepared is being ready for the types of
questions that may be asked. There are numerous articles on the web
and in bookstores with practice interview questions and answers. Make
sure to utilize all such resources available to you. And finally,
don’t forget to have extra copies of your resume and references on
hand should they be requested.
4. - DON'T FORGET YOUR MANNERS.
No matter how old fashioned it appears to use word like “please”,
“sir”, “ma’am” and “thank you”, do not delete these words from your
vocabulary. These simple words can work wonders towards making a
positive impression. Always use a respectful tone of voice. Do not
unnecessarily interrupt the interviewer. Maintain eye contact and a
pleasant expression. Leave the slang, slouching and gum chewing at
home. Good manners signals respect for yourself and the people around
you; never underestimate their importance.
5. - DON'T DRESS INAPPROPRIATELY.
Whether you like it or not, the job interview is not the time to
express your individuality. Always remember that your goal is to gain
employment, not to make a fashion statement. Accordingly, you should
not dress in any way that will distract attention from you and your
qualifications. Things to avoid include unconventional hair colors,
excessive jewelry and makeup and any clothes that you would wear to a
nightclub. Prior to the interview, contact the companies HR
department and inquire about the company dress code. Do your best to
dress accordingly. If there is any doubt, err on the side of being
overdressed.
6. - DON'T BE UNTRUTHFUL
Never, ever lie during an interview. Mistruths have an uncanny habit
of catching up to people. If the interviewer catches you in a lie
during the interview, you have seriously damaged your chances of being
hired. After all, would you hire someone that you couldn’t trust? If
your employer finds out you lied after you have been hired, it could
be grounds for dismissal. Even if they do not dismiss you, you are
still in serious trouble as you have damaged your integrity in the
eyes of your boss. The bottom line is that you should always be
truthful when interviewing.
7. - DON'T BE MODEST.
When searching for the right job, put your modesty aside. Don’t be
afraid to confidently describe your skills and accomplishments. After
all, if you don’t sing your praises to your potential boss, then who
will? Don’t count on your resume to do all the work; it is only a
tool to help you land the interview. Once you get your foot in the
door, it is up to you to convince the interviewer that you are the
ideal person for the job. Worried that you will come across as
conceited instead of self-confident? Then practice how and what you
will say with a friend or family member who can provide honest
feedback.
8. - DON'T FORGET THE "THANK YOU NOTE".
Once the interview has concluded, take a few moments to jot down your
impressions of the interviewer, what you talked about and any
interesting points that were brought up during the meeting. The ideal
time and place to do this is in your car a soon as you have exited the
building, as your thoughts will be most fresh at this time. Use this
information as you compose a well thought out thank you note to the
interviewer. Mail this note no later than the day following the
interview. Remember promptness signals interest.
By avoiding these 8 simple mistakes, you can improve your chances of
having a successful interview and landing the job of your dreams.
the one where most job seekers have trouble. There is plenty of
advice around on how to navigate thru an interview successfully. This
article has put together some simple, but crucial items that job
seekers should definitely plan on NOT doing!
====================================
JOB INTERVIEWING - 8 MISTAKES YOU MUST AVOID!
====================================
1. - DON'T SHOW UP LATE.
There is no easier way to lose points with a prospective employer
than to show up late. First impressions do last. And unfortunately,
showing up late screams things like “I am unreliable” or “your time is
not important to me”. Is this what you want a prospective employer to
think before you even have a chance to utter a word? Make it a point
to try to be early to every interview. That way, bad weather, traffic
and that last minute phone call stand less chance of ruining your
entrance. If the unforeseen 18-wheeler does happen to dump 10 tons of
tomatoes across the interstate, upon arrival, apologize first thing,
offer a quickexplanation and move on. (Ideally you would have called
from your cell phone as soon as you caught sight of the delay.)
2. - DON'T ACT DISINTERESTED.
No matter what the circumstance never act disinterested during an
interview. If 10 minutes into the meeting you become certain that
nothing on the planet could convince you to take a job with the
company continue to pay attention and act like you care about the
conversation. Remember that the interviewer does not exist in a
vacuum. He or she has friends, relatives, and associates who may
influence future job opportunities. If you behave poorly, the
interviewer will remember and will share the story of you and your
unprofessional behavior with others. Haven’t you shared bad job
search experiences with people close to you? The interviewer is
probably no different.
3. - DON'T BE UNPREPARED.
Being prepared has many facets. Interviewers expect you to know
something about the company and the position you are seeking. Having
this knowledge makes you appear both motivated and truly interested.
So make sure you do your research! Excellent sources of information
include, the Internet, periodicals and people already in the field.
Another facet of being prepared is being ready for the types of
questions that may be asked. There are numerous articles on the web
and in bookstores with practice interview questions and answers. Make
sure to utilize all such resources available to you. And finally,
don’t forget to have extra copies of your resume and references on
hand should they be requested.
4. - DON'T FORGET YOUR MANNERS.
No matter how old fashioned it appears to use word like “please”,
“sir”, “ma’am” and “thank you”, do not delete these words from your
vocabulary. These simple words can work wonders towards making a
positive impression. Always use a respectful tone of voice. Do not
unnecessarily interrupt the interviewer. Maintain eye contact and a
pleasant expression. Leave the slang, slouching and gum chewing at
home. Good manners signals respect for yourself and the people around
you; never underestimate their importance.
5. - DON'T DRESS INAPPROPRIATELY.
Whether you like it or not, the job interview is not the time to
express your individuality. Always remember that your goal is to gain
employment, not to make a fashion statement. Accordingly, you should
not dress in any way that will distract attention from you and your
qualifications. Things to avoid include unconventional hair colors,
excessive jewelry and makeup and any clothes that you would wear to a
nightclub. Prior to the interview, contact the companies HR
department and inquire about the company dress code. Do your best to
dress accordingly. If there is any doubt, err on the side of being
overdressed.
6. - DON'T BE UNTRUTHFUL
Never, ever lie during an interview. Mistruths have an uncanny habit
of catching up to people. If the interviewer catches you in a lie
during the interview, you have seriously damaged your chances of being
hired. After all, would you hire someone that you couldn’t trust? If
your employer finds out you lied after you have been hired, it could
be grounds for dismissal. Even if they do not dismiss you, you are
still in serious trouble as you have damaged your integrity in the
eyes of your boss. The bottom line is that you should always be
truthful when interviewing.
7. - DON'T BE MODEST.
When searching for the right job, put your modesty aside. Don’t be
afraid to confidently describe your skills and accomplishments. After
all, if you don’t sing your praises to your potential boss, then who
will? Don’t count on your resume to do all the work; it is only a
tool to help you land the interview. Once you get your foot in the
door, it is up to you to convince the interviewer that you are the
ideal person for the job. Worried that you will come across as
conceited instead of self-confident? Then practice how and what you
will say with a friend or family member who can provide honest
feedback.
8. - DON'T FORGET THE "THANK YOU NOTE".
Once the interview has concluded, take a few moments to jot down your
impressions of the interviewer, what you talked about and any
interesting points that were brought up during the meeting. The ideal
time and place to do this is in your car a soon as you have exited the
building, as your thoughts will be most fresh at this time. Use this
information as you compose a well thought out thank you note to the
interviewer. Mail this note no later than the day following the
interview. Remember promptness signals interest.
By avoiding these 8 simple mistakes, you can improve your chances of
having a successful interview and landing the job of your dreams.
