You have sent your resume to a number of potential employers and you have been invited to a job interview. You should see this as a once-off opportunity to land that perfect job, so you should probably want to avoid making the common mistakes that so many people make during job interviews. Here are the top 6 common mistakes people make during interviews:
1. Not being on time
There is probably nothing less annoying for an interviewer than when the interviewer is late for the interview. This shows a lack of respect for the hiring manager’s time, and even a lack of preparation and organization. That said, things happen. You can get stuck in traffic or in a subway delay. If something like that happens, do what you can to get in touch with your interviewer. You can salvage a lot and maintain an appearance of professionalism if you warn them that you will be late. Bottom line: do everything in your power to be on time for a job interview. Always.
2. Lying
Research shows that fifty-eight percent of employers have caught a candidate in a resume lie, while 31% of people admit to having lied on a resume. That’s a lot of lying. And, if you lie on a resume, you have to keep the lie up during the interview. Don’t do this. It’s not worth it. If you get caught – and there’s a good chance you will, as many employers will conduct background checks – you not only won’t get the job, you’ll have wasted everyone’s time, and burned a bridge for the future.
3. Coming unprepared
The most common complaint from hiring managers is that candidates don’t do their research about the role and the company. Why? Hiring managers want enthusiastic people who show initiative, and the best way to demonstrate this during an interview is to come prepared.
If you haven’t done any research into the company, and you don’t know anything about its products, services, or culture, it’s going to become evident during the course of the conversation. This doesn’t mean you have to become an expert in everything the company has ever done, but you should have enough information to ask questions and to demonstrate how you might add value. Preparing yourself tells the hiring manager that you’re taking the opportunity serious, and that you’re truly interested in the role.
4. Looking disinterested
Don’t let yourself zone out during an interview. Make sure you are well-rested, alert, and prepared. Getting distracted and missing a question looks bad on your part. If you zone out, your potential employer will wonder how you will be able to stay focused during a day on the job, if you can’t even focus during one interview. If you feel your attention slipping away, make an effort to stay engaged. Maintain eye contact, lean forward slightly when talking to your interviewer, and make an active effort to listen effectively.
5. Focusing too much on yourself
Another extremely annoying behaviour pattern among interviewees is when they focus too much on their own wants and needs. Companies hire you because you have traits and skills that will help them achieve their goals, not because they want to satisfy your needs. Use your responses to illustrate how you can be of service to the hiring manager.
6. Talking too much, using cliches and trash-talking others
There is nothing much worse than interviewing someone who goes on and on. The interviewer really doesn’t need to know your whole life story. Keep your answers succinct, to-the-point and focused and don’t ramble—simply answer the question.
Don’t get sidetracked and start talking about your personal life—your spouse, your home life, or your children are not topics you should delve into. No matter how warm, welcoming, or genial your interviewer may be, an interview is a professional situation—not a personal one.
Also avoid using cliches like “I’m a team player”, “I work too hard”, or “I’m a perfectionist”. Look at questions like “Tell me about yourself” as an opportunity to differentiate yourself. Say something real that they have not heard before and they will be more likely to remember you.
Lastly, never say negative things about people or companies – no matter how much you feel they deserve it. It makes you look childish and petty, and people don’t want to hire people who are childish and petty.
If you avoid these common mistakes during your job interviews, you should be okay. Happy hunting!
The Founders of Burkley Global have conducted hundreds of job interviews during their careers, and have become very experienced with good and bad interviews. Click here to register for our “Prepare for a English job interview” programme.
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Read this interesting article by CNBC:
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/04/03/the-most-common-interview-mistakes-job-candidates-make.html