While there aren’t many things that can go wrong in a job interview, mistakes often cost an applicant too many points to get hired. Since every interviewer has their own style and mood, it’s hard to pin down exactly how you can get it right every time. That said, it’s best to avoid the most common mistakes you can make during the interview. That way, it doesn’t matter who asks you the questions.
Mistake #1
The first mistake is to give short answers to the question. Remember that you are the interviewee. You are supposed to talk more than your interviewer. If you are asked a short question, don’t give a short answer. Provide your answer and explain how you came to that conclusion.
Mistake #2
Another mistake is taking too long to find the correct answer. More often than not, you will be asked direct questions, such as why he left his previous job, in which case you can afford to be careful about badmouthing your previous boss. However, if you are asked a hypothetical question, there is usually no right or wrong answer. Instead, the interviewer focuses on how he is building his awards and the reasoning behind his ideas, as this will have a role to play if he is ever hired.
Mistake #3
If there’s no question asking for it, try to maintain political correctness. Crossing that line strips you of your professional image. Once that happens and you unknowingly offend the interviewer, he or she will also stray from professionalism and not hire you. It’s sad, it’s true, and it happens. Stay on topic and you’ll be fine.
Mistake #4
Don’t come to your interview wearing faded jeans and expecting to be hired on just your credentials. Enter the best draws possible. Most people won’t admit to one simple truth: appearance matters. By looking good, you grab the attention of your interviewer. Keep giving good answers to the questions and you’ll land that interview.
Mistake #5
Every time the interviewer asks if you have any questions, shoot. By not having any questions for them, you are showing that you are only interested in letting them know about you, your skills, and getting hired. By asking questions, you show interest in the company.
There are more mistakes to avoid during a job interview, but they can usually be fixed by being polite and smiling a lot. As long as you don’t make the mistakes listed above, you’ll have a good chance of landing that job.