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Top 10 Mistakes You Can Make During an Interview

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Top 10 Mistakes You Can Make During an Interview

What you will find in this blog:

You made it! You passed the screening call and you are at the big interview. You want to make a good impression and secure the job. 

Either in-person or video, be sure to avoid these top 10 mistakes that you could make during your interview.

#1: Coming unprepared
Make sure you know at least a little bit about the company and have freshly read the job description. It is okay to still have some questions, but the interviewer should be able to tell that you checked out the company online and learned what you could from your own research.

#2: Trash talking others
You might be irritated with your current boss or with what went on at previous companies. Resist the urge to speak negatively about any past experiences or management. There are polite ways to indicate that you are ready to move on. You could be looking to advance skills in a certain area, seeking more responsibilities, hoping to enter a new industry, or any other number of reasons why you are looking for a new role that does not include speaking poorly of others. 

#3: Dressing inappropriately
Rolling into an interview in jeans and a T-shirt is not the best look. While a suit is appropriate for some positions, you do not have to wear a full suit for all interviews. Be sure to dress appropriately for the job and workplace. A more casual role or workplace environment might be okay with a button-down shirt and slacks or khakis for the interview. 

Before you ask, yes, even in a video interview you need to dress appropriately. It might be tempting to wear PJ bottoms, but do not do it. Dressing appropriately also makes you feel like you are qualified for the role which can translate to confidence in your interview.

#4: Not answering questions or lying
When an interviewer asks a direct question about your experience, provide a direct answer. Do not give a non-answer or something vague that could lead to confusion. Also, do not lie about your experience. You will most likely be found out, and it will ruin your credibility.

If needed, let the interviewer know you are unsure of specific numbers, but can get back to them. Or, provide qualified data such as “about,” “around,” or “up to” numbers. You can also tell them you appreciate the question and need a moment to put together your thoughts before answering. 

#5: Being rude
If you come in and treat the receptionist or other staff poorly, it will certainly get back to the hiring manager. No matter what position you are interviewing for or how qualified you are, please treat everyone in the office with respect. This is also just basic good person advice, but it is incredible how many people are rude to junior staff at interviews.

#6: Not having extra resumes
In a digital world, it can feel silly to bring paper copies of your resume to an interview. Ignore that voice and bring them! You do not know where the interview will be held, such as an office or conference room. The interviewer might not have a computer in front of them or may have forgotten a copy back at their desk. Have extra copies and make enough for you to have one for yourself so you can see exactly what the interviewer is looking at when a question is asked.

#7: Not asking questions
When the interviewer gives you an opportunity to ask questions, do not say that you know all you need to know. It is a huge mistake to let this opportunity slip by. Show that you are interested in the role and ask questions. Ask questions about the company, the role, or about what is important to you in a job. Be sure to come prepared with some questions in advance just in case you do not have anything pop into your mind in the moment. Need help? Check out my blog about Best Questions to Ask During an Interview.

#8: Checking your phone
How rude! Can you imagine interviewing someone and while you are in the middle of discussing whether they are a good fit for the company and learning about their experience they lose focus and pull out their phone?! Put it on silent for the small bit of time that you will be unavailable. Do not put your phone on vibrate, as hearing a phone bzzz… bzzz… is almost as disruptive as hearing it ring. If you need to be reachable (for example to childcare or something else), ask someone to cover that brief period for you. 

#9: Wrong timing
Being too late or too early to your interview is another mistake. You do not want to leave your interviewer waiting on you or make them feel rushed to get started when they are not ready. Leave yourself plenty of time to get there (or to set up your computer), but do not check in until about fifteen minutes before your appointment. 

#10: Posture and body language
Slouching, crossed arms, no eye contact, fidgeting, or rolling eyes can all give the impression that you do not care about the interview, or possibly that you are not confident in your skills. Engaging posture and body language such as sitting up straight, making appropriate eye contact, and other positive and minimal body language such as nodding, smiling, leaning forward a bit, or appropriate hand and arm movements can go a long way in indicating interest and confidence. 

Do not make these interview mistakes
These are some of the top mistakes you can make in an interview. Avoid doing these 10 things and you will be on your way to making a good first impression. If you can show up prepared and ready to have a positive and engaged conversation, chances are you will have a fantastic interview and become a strong candidate. 

Connect with me to learn how I can help you with interview coaching. I will help you prepare for interviews, run through mock interviews, and help you pre-plan answers to likely questions.

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