Top Five Interview Mistakes to Avoid
What Job Seekers Need to Keep in Mind When Looking for a Job
Sep 4, 2009
The difficulty with job interviews is that candidates want to make a good first impression and to do that they put pressure on themselves to remember all the do's and don’ts they have read about beforehand. When in reality the best thing a job seeker can do for themselves is to just be themselves.
While these five interview mistakes should be reviewed and avoided where possible, job seekers should keep in that the best representation of who they are is to naturally incorporate proper etiquette and an easy interview style into the complete package, not to try and memorize an arbitrary list.
Job Interview Introduction
What’s usually the first thing that people do when they are first introduced? They shake hands and state their name. Sure, some people will say not to “insult the interviewer by telling them the obvious.” However, it's important to behave in a courteous and professional manner, and that means job seekers should introduce themselves.
Stick to Work-Related Topics
The purpose of a job interview is for the recruiter and the job seeker to find out more about each other to determine if there is a fit between the employer’s needs and the job candidate’s wants. This is not the time to get into a discussion about personal problems or issues nor is it appropriate to bring up taboo topics such as politics, religion, or sex. Stick to work-related topics at all times.
Keep it on a Positive Note
One of the worst things that job seekers can do is to harp on anything negative; this includes their boss, coworkers, employer, or anything else. Yes, bad things happen. However, during a job interview it is up to job seekers to steer clear of negative topics the same way they steer clear of taboo subjects.
Personal Packaging is Everything
Once again it’s about first impressions. They do count. So when job seekers go to an interview they need to not only consider their personal appearance, but they also need to consider other factors: the complete package.
This includes details such as how much perfume or cologne they are wearing, whether they had a cigarette beforehand, or spent time outdoors in extreme heat. Overwhelming odors can be unpleasant and ruin the interview.
In addition to body odor, job seekers should consider body language. Constant movement or fidgeting during the interview process may signal nervous energy or high anxiety.
Show Enthusiasm and Interest
The only way for job seekers to truly know if a position or employer is right for them is by asking questions. Plus it communicates to the interviewer that the job seeker is interested in the opportunity available, an important step even if the job seeker changes her mind later on.
Another way to show enthusiasm for a position and employer is to follow up after the interview. This may include sending a thank you note as well as making a follow up phone call regarding the status of the opening.
The whole idea is to treat the interviewer courteously and professionally while behaving in an appropriate manner. Not always an easy task when job seekers are feeling the pressure to land an employment opportunity.
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