5 Things Ruining Your Success At Interviews

What is holding you back from successfully passing an interview?

You see a job posting and automatically you know it would be the perfect job for you. Your qualifications match, it would present you with career growth opportunities, and you know you’d bring great value to the company. In short, it’s your dream job!

You get the call for your interview, whether it’s in person or through online video, and you feel ready. Before you head out the door or start setting up your Zoom call, know there are plenty of little pitfalls which can come between you and your dream job. 

So what are the common mistakes ruining your success at interviews? Here are 5 to consider;

Not knowing anything about the company

For an interviewer this means that you are not interested in the company, and you did not prepare for the meeting. Do not try to come around the question, as this would greatly decrease your chances for success. Do your research in advance; check their website and social media pages to familiarize yourself with what the company is about.

Your dressing

In most interviews, wearing the wrong thing can mean immediate disqualification before you even open your mouth.

Studies have revealed that first impressions are formed a mere 7 to 17 seconds after meeting. In 7 seconds, all your interviewer will have to go by will be your interview attire. This is why it’s imperative to dress conservatively and professionally.

Being late

Always respect the time your interviewer devotes to you and demonstrate that time-management is one of your strong sides.

You might not think you need the extra time, but there are plenty of obstacles life can throw at you. You could get lost going to an unfamiliar neighborhood, or get stuck in a traffic pile up. Remember, it’s better to be early than late when it comes to your interview.

Distractions

Is that your phone ringing?  There is nothing so important it cannot wait until you get out of an interview, so be sure to turn off all sounds on your phone before going in for your meeting. This means turning your phone off vibrate too. While a loud ring is distracting, the constant sound of your phone vibrating in your bag can be just as bad.

Talking bad about your former employer

Perhaps your last job was terrible. Your boss made the work environment toxic.  We’ve all been there, and we can all relate, but these stories of workplace stress and drama are better placed for conversations with your friends, not in an interview for a new position. You might think that badmouthing your last office is a good tactic to explain why you were fired or why you want to make the switch to a new position. It is, however, a terrible idea.

Interviewers will think if you’re willing to badmouth a former employer, you’ll be willing to throw a new company under the bus as well. Go for discretion instead of full confession, and try to spin your former experiences in a positive way and make it about what you learned, not how much you hated your former job.

Finally;

Interviews can be stressful, which can lead to little mistakes that add up to big trouble for your prospects. How do you avoid this? Simple! Book a one on one interview coaching session here.