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Don't be
one to say, "if I could only do it over", after
your next interview. It's not uncommon to lose
sleep over an upcoming interview or to fret over your
performance afterwards. It's something else
though, to lose a shot at a great opportunity after you
realize you made a dumb mistake you could have avoided.
Avoid these
5 common interviewing mistakes that can make you look
dumb and eliminate you from further consideration.
1. Not Doing Your
Research
This is one
of the most common complaints hiring managers make
today. By not conducting research beforehand, you
lack basic knowledge about the company and the job
opportunity. You look foolish and you'll likely be
rejected because you've given the strong message that
you don't care enough about the company or the
opportunity.
Before your
interview, find out:
-
How large is
the company?
-
What
products/services do they offer?
-
Who are their
competitors?
-
Where do they
rank in their market?
-
What is their financial
situation?
Knowing
as much information as possible up front puts you in a
power position when you interview. You're now prepared
to talk intelligently about the company, the opportunity
and the company's products, and to use this information
to engage in a knowledgeable conversation with
your interviewer.
2. Being Needy
Neediness could be
the number-one advantage-killer in an interview.
Even if you have the car payment due and the rent to
pay, don't project yourself as needy. Employers can
sense desperation and it's a major turn-off.
Neediness negates any advantage you hold with your
strong skills and achievements.
Remind
yourself before walking in the door: you need food, air,
and water. You do NOT need this particular job.
Keep things in perspective.
3. Getting
Emotional
At times the
interviewer may hit a nerve. He or she may even
consciously try to provoke you into an "outburst."
Don't fall for it. Before you walk into the
interview room, clear your mind of any fears, anger,
smoldering resentments or other negativity.
Perhaps you just had a disagreement with your partner,
your dog may have died, or a close relative was just
diagnosed with cancer. Life happens. Put it all
aside for the next hour so you can maintain a calm,
open-minded presence with your interviewer. When
negative emotions enter into an interview, failure
follows.
4. Not Asking
Questions
Tattoo
this on your forehead: You're here to interview them.
Your objective is to discover whether this organization
is a good fit for YOU. Too many candidates treat
the interview as an interrogation when it should be a
conversation. Don't just answer their
questions. You want to find out more about what
this job is really about and whether you want it.
Arrive
with a list of prepared questions about the company, the
position, and the people who work there. Ask questions
that begin with "what," "how," and "why."
Avoid simple yes/no questions. Get your interviewer
talking as much as possible, and then take notes. Most
interviewers are unimpressed by candidates who have no
questions, as it shows a lack of interest or initiative.
5. Not Closing
There is one
important question most candidates don't ask at all.
This is the closing question at the end of the
interview. You need to know what happens after this
interview. Many books advise asking for the job
here, but you may feel intimidated to bluntly do so.
With other candidates scheduled to interview, the hiring
manager is not likely to make you an offer yet.
You may need to do some additional research on the
company, making it too early to ask for the job.
A good
compromise is to let them know you're interested in the
job. Then, ask this question, "What's our next
step?" This way, you won't be left with
any surprises. Remember to ask for the
interviewer's direct phone number and the best time to
call to follow up.
Summary
A successful
performance at your interview can make all the
difference in winning that job offer. You can get
there a lot faster by avoiding these five common
interviewing mistakes that not only make you look dumb,
but also lose a good opportunity.
As a
recruiter, Joe Turner has spent the past 15 years
finding and placing top candidates in some of the best
jobs of their careers. Author of Job
Search Secrets Unlocked, Joe has interviewed
on radio talk shows and offers free insider job search
secrets at:
http://www.jobchangesecrets.com.
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