If you go to numerous interviews and still being turned down by employers, you may be doing the below interview mistakes. Employers may not be tolerated for mistakes, especially if there are too many applicants for the same position. Therefore, avoid the below common mistakes.
- Not Dressing Appropriately and appearing unpolished
Know the dress code of the company you are going to interview with. Although a business attire will be the most appropriate for an interview, sometimes being overdressed may irritate the interviewer. Therefore, research the company culture and dress accordingly. If you don’t want to take any risks, then, it is safer to dress professionally. Remember that a good first impression is the key to get hired and for this reason, your outfit should reflect that you are serious about the job and want to put your best foot forward. It’s not a fashion show, but it is important to carefully select your outfitand take a look in the mirror before you arrive.
We all know it’s wrong to judge a book by its cover – but interviewers often do just that!
- Badmouthing Former Employers
If asked why you left your previous jobs, never badmouth your previous employers or co-workers. Even if you had problems with them, it is not professional to talk behind others’ back to strangers. This says a lot about your personality. No matter what problems you have with your previous employers, you always have to respect them.
Don’t say negative things about people or companies – no matter how much you feel they deserve it. It makes you look negative, and companies don’t want to hire people like that.
Nothing reveals a bad attitude like excessively criticizing your current or previous employers.
The interviewer will probably ask you why you want to change your job or why you quit from your previous job. Say that you are looking for something new, or you are ready for an advancement, etc.
- Arriving late for an interview
Since job candidates often have several interviews with different managers scheduled back to back, two things could happen when you show up late: Either your first interview is cut short, or you disrupt the schedules of several interviewers. Neither is good for you, since it either short changes your time with an interviewer or makes multiple people grumpy.
Being late for an interview is one of the worst mistakes you can do and don’t make the “traffic” excuse. If you think the traffic will be a problem, then, plan your commute accordingly. Leave the house earlier. If you arrive late to an interview, the interviewer may think that you are either irresponsible or have poor time management skills. Certainly, there may be times where unexpected circumstances may occur and you may be late but in these situations, at least call and inform others in advance.In simplest terms, you shouldn’t be late to an interview. Ever. It shows a lack of respect for the hiring manager’s time, and even a lack of preparation and organization. That said, we do realize that 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 inform them that you will be late.
On the flip side, arriving too early can also irritate a hiring manager, since it is equally disruptive to their schedule. It’s important to arrive at least 10 minutes early to get through any security and check in with reception, but it’s a mistake to arrive any earlier than 15 minutes before your scheduled interview time.Arriving 10 minutes ahead of schedule – serves two purposes. It proves that you’re organized, reliable and eager. It also allows you to take some time to compose yourself, use the restroom and prepare for the impending conversation.
- Not bringing a resume
In an ideal scenario, the hiring manager would be ready with your resume, but days are busy and not every interviewer is organized. That means you should always have a copy for each person you expect to meet with, plus some extras in case you have unexpected interviews. Not only is it practically helpful, it signals that you are thoughtful and prepared.
- Avoiding eye contact and displaying low energy
This one is hard to define but an interview killer. Here’s what it looks like: Slumped shoulders, lack of eye contact, slowness to respond to questions, and a general lack of enthusiasm for the company or role. If you don’t clearly want the job, it’s near impossible to persuade someone to give it to you.
Meeting the interviewer’s gaze is essential to making a good impression, else it appears that you lack confidence or perhaps hiding something.
Avoid talking in clichés- “I’m a people’s person.”“I am a workaholic.” Or “I’m a perfectionist.”
Sound familiar? If you’re using these to answer questions like “Tell me about yourself” and “What’s your greatest weakness?” it’s time you start being original.
Communication goes beyond words. It’s important to make eye contact while listening and speaking, offer a firm handshake and sit with good posture. Try not to channel your nervous energy into fidgeting.
- Focusing too much on themselves or lying in an interview
From an employer’s perspective, the purpose of a job interview is to determine whether a candidate is a good match for the company’s needs. That means your answers should focus on how the company will benefit from hiring you, not how you will benefit from getting the job.
Talking endlessly about what you want, how this job is the direction you want to go in your career, and how the experience would be great for you is meaningless to an interviewer.
Companies don’t pay you to help you out! They hire you because you have traits and skills that will help them achieve their goals. Use your responses to illustrate how you can be of service to the hiring manager.
Telling rambling stories wastes the interviewer’s time and decreases the opportunities you have to cover all of the ground you’d like to in the conversations. Communication skills are key in many positions, so the interviewer is likely assessing your ability to speak with clarity and brevity.
Don’t sell yourself too aggressively as it is a mistake to come on too strong. Don’t brag to the point of arrogance, and don’t try to dominate the conversation
Lying is always a bad idea. When the company discovers the truth, you’ll be immediately disqualified from this job and likely all future opportunities.
- Not doing research on the role or company or interviewer and being 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 go to the interview without researching the company and the position, how are you going to convince them that you are the best fit for this job? Being unprepared shows them that you are not serious about this job. When asked “Why do you want to work here?”, an employer expects a clear answer from you. Instead, if you look at the interviewer with a blank impression, then, an employer may end the interview at that point because s/he may think that this candidate is not the right fit for the organization.
Further, not demonstrating a basic knowledge of the role or providing clear examples of your past performance makes it seem like you just rolled in after only glancing at the company’s website.
Go into the interview armed with information about the person with whom you’ll be conversing. You may discover a shared interest you can talk about to build rapport. Or you may find out that the interviewer has connections at one of your past employers.
- Not having any questions and Bringing up salary and benefits too soon
Most interviewers leave time at the end to answer questions. Usually, they know you’re vetting them, too, and want to make sure it’s a two-sided conversation. It’s also a bit of a test. At some point the interviewer is going to ask “Do you have any questions for me?” and you should not say “no.”
The questions you ask often reveal the way you think and what’s important to you. It also shows that you care enough about the job that you want to know more.
Not having any questions prepared signals you don’t care, aren’t curious or haven’t done your research.
You should never bring up the topic of salary first, because it puts you in a weaker negotiation position. Additionally, talking about it too early may give the impression that you’re only interested in the job for its perks. So save this conversation for after you’ve been offered the job.
- Asking weirdly personal questions and using your cell phone during the interview
Using a friendly tone is nice, but it’s important not to cross a line by sharing too much personal information. Remember, you never know how the person sitting across from you will react to a story about your weekend antics. You only get limited time with the interviewer, so stay focused on your professional accomplishments and the company’s needs.
Conversely, some candidates get a little too personal with their questions. This line of questioning might make the hiring manager feel uncomfortable and also doesn’t illuminate anything for you or them.
Avoid using your phone during the interview to answer a call or text. Best to keep it on silent in order to keep the interview uninterrupted.Even if you’re simply checking the time, stealing glances at your cell phone may come across as rude or suggest you’re easily distracted. Before you go into the interview room, turn off your devices and store them out of sight.
- Forgetting to follow up or following up too aggressively
So many people forget this basic rule of interviewing to follow up within 24 hours to thank the interviewer for their time and underscore your interest in the position. If you don’t do it, hiring managers may think you’re not interested or organized, or they may simply forget about you.
While it’s important to follow up, you should not send multiple emails or call an interviewer. It is extremely awkward to receive a call out of the blue from someone demanding to know why they haven’t heard from you. Send your follow-up email, and then move on with your life. Anything more is probably too much.
