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A
face-to-face interview is the most stressful part of
the job search for many individuals, but it is also
a critical component of the recruiting process. Up
until this point, you have been able to hide behind
your resume and cover letter. As the selection
process starts to draw to a close, though, it's time
to impress the hiring team. A large part of a
successful interview is avoiding potential pitfalls
that can undermine your ability to impress the
hiring team.
The
top ten critical mistakes that people make when
interviewing for a position are:
Arriving Late to the
Interview
Arriving late makes a strong negative first
impression and will raise questions in the
interviewer's mind about your reliability and
punctuality. Always ask for directions to the
interview site and double-check a map so that you
know where you are going. Don't forget to allow
extra time for traffic and other unforeseeable
events.
Poor Dress Attire and
Grooming
Remember that professional companies are looking to
hire professional individuals, not the beach bum who
just shook the loose sand from his hair. Dress
conservatively in a well-fitting suit and keep
jewelry, makeup, and fragrances to a minimum. It's
also important to always take a shower, brush your
teeth, and comb your hair before an interview, as
well as presenting a clean and polished image.
Failure to Do Research
about the Company Prior to the Interview
Show you are interested in the company by doing some
outside research before the interview. This
attention to detail sends a clear message to the
interviewer that you are serious about the position
and are willing to go the extra mile. This research
will also help you determine if the company's
industry, products/services, and culture are a god
match for you.
Failure to Give
Specific Examples of Your Experience and Measure
Your Skills Against the Position
Interviewers want to know more than just the bare
bones of your experience. They are interested in the
specific tasks you have performed, challenges you
have faced, and the methods you have used to
overcome those challenges. This is especially true
of behavioral interviewers. Take the time to give
the interviewer specific examples of how you have
performed and how these relate to the duties of the
position. If you can draw a clear parallel between
your work experience and the position you are
interviewing for, you have a much higher chance of
being successful in the interviewing process.
Not Taking the
Opportunity to Ask Intelligent Questions About the
Company and/or Position
The
interviewing process is not just an opportunity for
the company to evaluate your fit for the position;
it's also your opportunity to evaluate how well the
company and the position match your ideal job.
Asking questions not only helps you determine how
well-suited you are for the position (and it for
you), but also clearly indicates that you have done
some basic research about the organization. Don't
ask questions just for the sake of asking questions.
Poorly-worded questions can frequently do more
damage to your reputation than remaining silent.
Failure to Practice
Even the best public speakers need to take the time
to practice delivering and answering detailed
questions. The more you practice, the more
comfortable you will get with your answers and the
material, allowing for a much smoother delivery.
Talking Too Much (or
Not at All)
The
best answers are succinct, but detailed.
Interviewees who ramble on and on come across as
trying to compensate for some weakness, while those
individuals who just sit there and stare appear as
though they are in shellshock (and maybe in over
their heads). Neither of these scenarios is ideal in
an interview situation. Choose your words carefully
and sparingly, but don't be a mute.
Bad-Mouthing Previous
Managers or Companies
One
of the fastest ways to turn off an interviewer is to
bad-mouth your current or previous employer. This
raises questions about your loyalty and integrity,
and labels you as unhappy and a complainer. Even if
you worked in a sweatshop with no lights, running
water, or meal breaks for 18 hours a day, keep all
the negative comments to yourself.
Failing to Explain Why
They Are a Good Fit for the Position (and the
Company)
If
you leave it up to the interviewer to evaluate if
you are a solid fit for the company, then you risk
the chance that they might not make the decision
you'd like to hear. Make it easy for the
interviewer to hire you by connecting your
experiences, talents, and strengths to the job
description.
Don't State that You
Want the Job
Once the interview has concluded, if you want the
job, let the interviewer know that you are still
interested in the position. Since the interview is
as much about your evaluation of the company and the
position as it is them evaluating you, don't assume
the interviewer knows you still want the job.
Reiterate your interest and inquire about the next
step in the hiring process.
Laura Adams is a qualified careers advisor with 11
years of experience. Teaching Careers Information -
Resources, news, tips and views to help teachers
find their dream jobs (http://www.Teaching-Job.info).
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