How to Avoid
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Not Preparing Properly for the Interview
Not doing your homework and preparing adequately for the interview beforehand shows you up as a disinterested and unprofessional candidate.
The best way to impress your interviewer is to demonstrate your interest and commitment by referring to your company background research in both your interview answers and questions.
For comprehensive information on conducting company research go to
background research techniques.
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Arriving Late One of the worst job interview mistakes is to not be on time for the interview. The whole interview process is compromised as you will have to work very hard to overcome creating an initial bad impression. Collect all the necessary details beforehand to ensure that you arrive on time - directions, travel times etc. Make a practice run if possible to ensure you know where you are going and how long it takes. |
Stumbling over Interview Answers
Being unable to clearly articulate responses to the questions you face is a candidate's worst nightmare. Avoid this job interview mistake by preparing and practicing your answers to typical interview questions beforehand. This will ensure that you are ready with the information you are asked for and you are ableto present it confidently to the interviewer. Go to common job interview questions and answers for practical help.
Failing to Ask Questions
Interviewers are unimpressed when they ask the candidate if they have any questions and the candidate does not! Having no questions indicates that you are not sufficiently interested and have not thought much about the position. You should arrive with a list of several prepared questions that you can use when necessary.
You will want to find out certain details about the position as well as show the interviewer that you have done some serious thinking about the job and the company. Go to good questions to ask the interviewer to prepare a list of winning interview questions and avoid making one of the most damaging job interview mistakes.
Talking Too Much
Rambling on and telling the interviewer more than they want to know can quickly lose their interest. Make sure your answers are relevant and focused. The best way to do this is to prepare and practice your interview answers beforehand.
Confirm you have understood what information the interviewer wants by asking a clarifying question, such as, "Should I focus on ...". Listen actively to what the interviewer is saying to make sure you get the right message. This takes concentration and focus.
Often nervousness leads to candidates talking too much. Good interview preparation increases confidence and reduces nervousness. Go through the tips on reducing interview stress to help control your nervousness during the job interview.
Not Displaying a Positive Attitude
Complaining about former employers and colleagues creates a negative impression. Disclosing inappropriate details such as the problems you had with a former manager and seeming defensive when responding to difficult questions, such as reasons for leaving previous jobs, also conveys a negative attitude. Focus on positive topics and achievements. Be enthusiastic about what you have learned from previous challenges and how overcoming problems has developed you positively as a person.
View practical guidelines on how to effectively handle difficult topics.
Allowing Distractions
Avoid fiddling with anything while you are talking or listening to the interviewer. We interviewed a candidate who tried to balance his pencil on his fingers, it kept falling off and, unbelievable as it seems, at one point he was scrabbling on the floor for it!
Think about what you are doing with your hands to keep them under control. Fiddling with your clothing, your hair, your notebook, tapping your pen, your foot etc are all distracting and irritating. Wild gesticulations are also disconcerting.
Read through the tips on interview body language to avoid this common job interview mistake.
By avoiding these common job interview mistakes you create the right impression during your interview and come across as a professional and confident job candidate.
Return from Job Interview Mistakes to Best Job Interview
