5 Biggest Job Interview Mistakes You Could Possibly Make

You’ve submitted your application and got a positive response: an invitation to interview. What could possibly go wrong from here? Quite a lot, it turns out…

Here are 5 biggest interview mistakes that could ruin your chances of securing that job;

Being unprepared

Preparation for an interview is crucial to arriving in a confident mood and feeling ready to tackle the interviewer’s questions. Read up on the company’s background, its place in the market and its competitors, and familiarize yourself with its key members. Make sure that you fully understand the role on offer.

Being prepared also means figuring out how you’re going to get to your interview, planning your route and factoring in any delays you may encounter. There are no excuses for being late when it comes to job interviews so show your enthusiasm by arriving on time.

I remember interviewing for a writer position and being asked a question about my writing style. It was such a simple question but my nerves got the best of me. I went blank and couldn’t come up with a concrete answer. Why? I didn’t prepare well enough.

Dressing inappropriately

Being well presented is a must so choose your outfit carefully. Clothes should be clean and freshly ironed. Turning up in ripped jeans and sport shoes hardly gives a professional impression.

Knowing the type of company you have applied to should give you a clue as to the dress code. For example, in legal or business firms dress is usually more formal, while in creative companies or IT the dress code is more relaxed. However, if in doubt always err on the side of caution. It’s better to go too formal than not formal enough.

Talking too much or not enough

Learning to strike a balance between talking too much and talking too little can be a challenge. Taking part in practice interviews with a professional interview coach can really help to ensure that you give the right amount of information.

It’s important to sell your skills and experience without rambling. Once the interviewer asks a question, pause for a couple of seconds, take a breath and gather your thoughts before responding. If you’re talking too much or too fast, you run the risk of talking over or interrupting the interviewer.

Not giving enough information and forgetting to mention important points can be just as detrimental as waffling. To make sure this doesn’t happen, practice answers to common interview questions beforehand. If your mind goes completely blank, politely ask for a couple of seconds to gather your thoughts or ask if it’s ok to come back to the question at the end, once you’ve had some time to think.

Criticising previous employers or colleagues

Complaining about colleagues, drawing attention to the negative aspects of your previous or current job or lamenting about your superiors is all likely to blow your chances of success.

This gives employers the wrong impression of you and makes them question what you’d say about them in similar circumstances.

No matter the reason for you leaving your previous or current employment, always be diplomatic. You don’t want potential employers to think of you as disloyal or complaining.

Failing to ask questions

As the interview draws to a close the recruiter will ask if you have any questions you’d like to ask them. It’s never a good idea to say no. This is your opportunity to get answers to your queries about the role and the company so don’t waste it. Asking a couple of relevant questions shows your interest in the role. You could ask about any current projects your potential team is working on, progression opportunities, or where the company sees itself in five years’ time.

Bottom line;

It’s all well and good knowing what not to do at an interview, but not much use if you don’t know what you should be doing to win the job.

Are nerves and interview jitters running your chances of succeeding? Worry no more; a professional interview coach is the solution you need

Setting aside your nerves is easier said than done, but learning to conquer them is where the work lies, book an interview coaching session and ace your next interview like a pro!