The Top 10 Mistakes Made in Job Interviews and How to Avoid Them
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Staff Editor
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You did it! You impressed your future employer to the point where they called you in for a face-to-face job interview. This is your chance to go in there in person and shine. Now that you?ve been given this opportunity, it?s critical that you don?t waste it. Here are the top ten mistakes made in job interviews and how to avoid them.
1. Dressing Dreadfully: According to a Careerbuilder.com survey, the single most common mistake made by candidates in job interviews is inappropriate dress. It?s almost a certainty that you as the candidate will be expected to wear a business suit or other formal dress to the interview. The one exception to this rule can be high-tech companies, where anything other than jeans and flip flops might make you stick out like a sore thumb.
2. Badmouthing The Boss: Believe it or not, the second most common mistake made by a job candidate was badmouthing their former boss. How do you think your prospective boss will feel if they hear you harping on your prior boss? They?re going to wonder whether they?ll be the topic of conversation if you should happen to move on to another company in the future. Even if you have excellent reasons to be bitter, don?t do it.
3. Lack of Excitement: If you can?t get excited for the job interview, your interviewer will probably figure that you won?t be very enthusiastic while you?re on the job. Sit or stand up straight. Smile! Make sure the interviewer knows how excited you are to be interviewing for this particular job.
4. Acting Like a Know-It-All: There?s probably nothing that annoys an interviewer more than an applicant who comes in and is aggressive to the point of arrogance. While it?s very important to engage with your interviewer and ask questions, there?s a fine line between showing interest and monopolizing the conversation to the point where the interviewer can?t get a word in edge-wise. Be sure to let the interviewer finish their sentences, and try not to ramble on when you?re speaking.
5. Lack of Preparation: On the other hand, it?s vital that you prepare for a job interview by researching the company and preparing for all the typical questions you?re likely to be asked. If the interviewer asks a question you don?t know the answer to, you?re much better off telling them so than stuttering and mumbling as you grope for an answer.
6. Not Asking Pertinent Questions: An interview is a two-way street. You don?t want to ask a bunch of irrelevant questions at a job interview, but you do want to ask pertinent, well-thought-out questions that require more than a yes or no answer.
7. Late on Arrival: You never get a second chance... No doubt you?ve heard it before. If you?re going to be late, call and tell the interviewer, the sooner the better. If it?s earlier in the day, ask if you can reschedule for later that day.
8. Being Inarticulate: One of the questions you?re almost sure to hear at a job interview is "what are your strengths and weaknesses?" Although it might seem like a simple question, more often than not it?s tough to articulate the answer, so practice. Rehearse the answers you plan to give for questions like this.
9. Being too General: When the interviewer asks you a question, do your best to give examples or connections that link your answer to the job under consideration. You?re usually better served with concise, specific answers rather than longer, rambling answers that don?t necessarily apply to the job you?re seeking.
10. Asking about Salary: Don?t be too eager to talk salary. While it?s vital not to sell yourself short, you don?t want to make your salary requirements the centerpiece of the interview. If it doesn?t come up during the course of the interview, you can ask about the salary toward the end.
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It's implied under number four above but "listening" is an extremely important part of the interview process. Forget about all those fears and worries that are running through your head, be in the moment, focus and listen, really listen to what the interviewer is saying. It sounds easy but sometimes it is the most difficult thing to do!
Marie Bruno-Bouquet
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Now I know better about it. Thanks a lot!
LeDonna Sotomayor
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If this list is going to be so "bossy" the least it could do with things like the "questions to ask" part could come up with examples? And it sometimes doesn't matter the company you're being interviewed as to the questions you're being asked. I've been asked far-out questions time to time "What's the best customer service experience you've ever had?" at a JCPenny interview? What was this a survey? Why would they bother to ask me THAT? See? Nice...
nicolec
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wish my interviewers this morning knew the interview was a two way street.
I feel more confident about job interviews after reading this information. It gives you the frame of mind needed to prepare for a good interview. Thank you for this helpful information.
Susann Major
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Give examples of pertinent questions. have difficulty with this on interviews.
Holly Hesse
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I couldn't agree more - I was asked the question regarding strength and weakness before - and froze like a deer in headlights - it was ugly - but I learned from it......
This is good advice. Another thing I have found that is useful is having a web site about you or a web site that relates to your IT job that you are applying for. For example, if your applying for a job building web sites you might want to refer your interviewer to your portfolio of web sites you have built or the web site that tells more about you.
Gordon MacPhail
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In most cases you would have to dress for the part except in the case of the Construction industry as well.Like going for a interview with High tech companies sandals would not be the way to go Jeans and work boots lets them know you are ready to work especially if Operating heavy equipment lets face it when was the last time you saw someone in a Bulldozer wearing a suit and tie ! Thanks for the other tips i`ll make sure that they are put to good use ! G
1)Dress: I wore a silk short sleeved shirt & docker pants: also rode a bike to interview; 2)lack of preparation: I stumbled on 1 question--I don't believe it was worded properly; 3) I asked about salary at the end of interview (as article suggests), but now I believe (as most writers indicate) I should have left it out entirely. The job I interviewed for was a blockbyblock.com: ambassador/cleanup downtown job. I also believe getting hired from an interview is like winning a lottery. Any reply is appreciated. Thanks, Tom Portel
Bharath Kumar
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Right post at the right time.Thank you!!!
anonyms
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whatever happened to showcasing just who you are to see if you fit in with a company in its offered position. UK jobmarket feels too much like employers want prospect employees to jump through hoops to see how many tricks they'll do to get the job rather than to look at who they actually have in front of them. What's worse it that 80% of the job openings out there are just shit jobs anyway and still they put out the hoops. Ridiculous!!
Thank so much for this write-up, it has changed so many things about my perception of what an interview demands from a potential applicant which ordinarily would not be noticeable
Rebecca Podolski
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Michele O'Reggio's hints are highly beneficial to job seekers. Just for clarification, though, in job interview mistake #2, I think she meant to write "prospective boss", not "perspective boss". Thanks.
Marina Medakovic
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Why is the salary question so prohibited???We all work for money compensation not for love!!!I remember the time when only idiots did not show an interest in being paid and it was negative mark at the interview of course.The only problem here I see is the lack of jobs and nothing else.
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