It’s very easy to make mistakes in job interview. With a little bit of preparation and practice, you can avoid these common interview mistakes. Candidates make these interview mistakes without even knowing about it. Below are few tips and steps to make sure how to you ace your career without making any interview mistakes.
Here are the top 8 common interview mistakes that one should avoid for a better career;
Interview Mistake No. 1 : Dressing Inappropriately
Before you utter a single word, the first impression formed with your appearance, facial expression, eye contact and posture matters a lot for getting the interview in your favor. The magic of a first impression must be sustained throughout the interview, so repeat some of its elements such as smiling frequently, maintaining direct eye contact without staring, and vary the amount of feeling, warmth, passion, and excitement in every response.
Communicate clearly, present a professional, mature image, be modest, and display pride and an inner confidence when describing accomplishments.
Interview dress code is a combination of what makes you comfortable, what express how you feel about yourself, and what is appropriate to the field or industry in which you are seeking employment. We have seen many times candidates are not taking their dress code seriously.
Its human nature to judge others based on what they look like. We assume characteristics about other people based purely on what they look like. So why should it be any different for interviewers when they meet you for the first time? Please bear in mind that interviewers (often subconsciously) believe that your appearance is the outward manifestation of your personality.
We hope next time you will try to avoid this type of common interview mistakes.
Interview Mistake No. 2 – Arriving Late
In our common interview mistakes list, arriving late is numbered at 2 even though its a very common mistake that is seen during interview.
You should plan to arrive at the interview place ten to fifteen minutes before the scheduled interview, otherwise you will be stressed and lose the advantage for a positive first impression. First impressions are very important in landing a job as you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression.
Arriving late suggests a poor time management and also shows a lack of respect to the company’s policy, position and even the interviewer.
Here are certain tips to arrive in time;
- Ask for the specific direction if you don’t know the place of interview. You can either ask the interviewer or any of your friends.
- Practice the route that you are going to take for interview
- Have some time for traffic, bus or train delays which can not be avoided on the route.
- Plan it in such a way that you arrive at the reception desk 10-15 minutes before the interview. If you don’t know the exact place of interview then try to reach there before 30-45 minute and after reaching at the destination find out a coffee shop and spend your 15-20 minutes there and relax before taking interview.
Interview Mistake No. 3 – Asking about salary hike
Even though salary hike is the main criteria of changing job, you should not initiate this discussion from your side or should not be tempted to ask for the hike that the company can offer. If the company sees you as someone who is just joining for money then they may not care about you. Let the interviewer ask this question to you and you be prepared for an answer to this question.
Interview Mistake No. 4 – Ringing of cell phones
Your cell phone should be in switch off mode before you get in to your interview. Taking phone call gives an impression of lack of respect and sends a clear message to your potential employer that getting this job is not in your priority list.
Interview Mistake No. 5 – Knowing Anything about the Company
If you are attending a interview without knowing anything about the company then you may land up with so many questions unanswered. For example your employer may ask “What do you know about this company?”
Before the interview, you should be prepared with the company background; product/services company offer, competition, revenue and profitability. Do a research on the company before taking any interview.
Interview Mistake No. 6 – Not Paying Attention during interview
You should make sure that; you are well-rested and listening to the interviewer carefully.
You can use proper body language so that the interviewer gets a feeling that you are paying attention to him. If you missed out any question then your employer may wonder how you will be able to stay focused on the job.
To be attentive you should maintain proper eye contact, lean forward slightly when talking to your interviewer.
Interview Mistake No. 7 -Body language
It’s a non-verbal communication of human being consisting of body posture, gesture, facial expression and eye movement. Human send signals subconsciously by behaving in a particular way to a situation. Your body language can provide clues about your state of mind and indicate your aggression, pleasure, intoxication and attentiveness.
Most of the candidate do mistake by signaling the interviewer about there bad behavior, aggression, confusion and irritation. To avoid all this one has to be very calm and practice the possible interview questions before taking any interview.
Interview Mistake No. 8 – Criticizing or Badmouthing
During an interview you should not make mistakes of badmouthing your boss, coworkers or your past employer even though your boss and coworkers is an idiot… Your interviewer might think that, you may speak the same way about his or her company.
Your interviewer may as you “Why are you leaving your present position?” Possible answer to this question is higher salary, opportunity and growth. You can also say that the present position looks attractive and challenging for me and this meets the exact criteria that I was looking for.
Again your performance at an interview will largely depend on how well you are prepared for it.
15 Additional points you should keep in your mind for any interview
Interview is a conversation where the interviewer tries to elicit facts and statements from the interviewee by asking questions. To prepare for an interview you have to enhance your various skills like your body language, listening and communication skills. Here are 15 points that we consider is a must for any one preparing for interview;
- Smile, it conveys confidence, warmth and enthusiasm.
- Wear clothes that are appropriate for the interview and for the profession. Chose the right things to wear for interview. You should look neat, clean, polished and pressed. Dressing up is not only a way to make you attractive; it is one of the many signals of respect you will send to the interviewer during the first 30 seconds of your interview.
- Your hair should be neatly trimmed
- Have a firm handshake
- You should address the interviewer as Ms. or Mr., if you don’t remember the name then Sir/Madam will be appropriate. You should introduce yourself with you first or last name.
- Make a good eye contact.
- Do not smoke before an interview as it is impossible to hide the smell of smoke.
- Make a good first impression with the receptionist and the interviewer.
- Avoided discussing irrelevant and out-dated experiences.
- Don’t overdo the perfume or cologne.
- Your answer should not reveal that you are clearly unqualified for the job.
- Demonstrate an interest in the interviewer
- Turn of your cell phone. If you forget to switch it off then just apologize for the interruption and turn off the device.
- Don’t take coffee or other beverage to the interview place.
- Practicing before every interview.