Even the smartest business people make mistakes at interviews but it is the interview stage that will determine whether you are ‘hired’ for the role you have applied for. Here are our top ten mistakes, commonly made at interview stage, with ideas on how to overcome them.
Regularly candidates turn up for interview and it is evident they have not done any research about the organisation they are applying to. It can be highly embarrassing for a candidate when asked what they know and there should be no excuses why research has not been done.
The internet is a fantastic way to research a company, make sure you understand what the company does; what services/products they offer, who their customers are and any history about the organisation and any other information you can find out.
Giving little thought to the questions you may face at interview is common. Lack of preparation will probably mean you give poor example of competencies at interview. Afterwards you will think of a million better examples that the one you used.
The best way to prepare is to look at the essential and desirable criteria and responsibilities in the job profile; think about the experience you have and draft out some examples. Make sure you know your strengths and how they match to the job you’re applying for.
Often candidates can be too honest about relations at their current or previous places of work. Even though your previous boss may have been the most difficult person in the world to get along with, mentioning this at interview may go against you. You could be viewed as somebody who struggles to build relationships or you could come across as a ‘complainer’. Usually a new employer would avoid hiring this person. Remember to be professional and avoid negative comments.
Often people leave interviews feeling as though they could have done better. An interview is the time to tell your prospective employer why they should recruit you!
Being too modest and not showing any passion or drive could lead them to think you don’t have the right skills or experience or the motivation for the job. We can feel embarrassed talking ourselves up but remember if you want the job you have to sell yourself, this is your one and only opportunity.
Talking too much can get you into trouble; you may end up saying something you wish you hadn’t. You can be perceived as out of control and indirect; not able to get to the point. You can learn to overcome this by practising prior to interview through role-play.
A good way to give your examples is in star format; firstly outline the situation, explain what the task was, go on to talk through the actions you undertook and finally what the results were. This should keep you focused at answering the question appropriately with less possibility of going off on a tangent forgetting what the initial question was!
Being late for an interview due to not allowing enough travel time or not having proper directions can make you feel harassed and you will also get off to a very bad start to the interview. An interviewer can see your lateness for interview as an example of your lack of punctuality.
Overcome this by planning your journey, if possible drive there prior to interview to ensure you know the location and always allow added time, aim to get there at least fifteen minutes early so you can take five minutes to gather your thoughts.
This happens all of the time and it looks very unprofessional. A candidate’s phone ringing or beeping during interview is not acceptable. Make sure your phone is switched off or on silent at the very least. No excuses!
We are not all extroverts with outgoing personalities. Yet we can all be enthusiastic and an employer will want to see this from a candidate, creating an aura of enthusiasm and positivity is important at interview and could help you to secure that role.
Overcome your nerves and refrain from shutting down your personality!
Candidate’s CV’s are sometimes seen as creative writing, the worst mistake you can make is putting something on your CV that you have forgotten about and perhaps over exaggerated to a high degree.
Make sure you are familiar with what you have written on your CV because you could be asked at any time for further information. An employer may ask for proof of qualifications and training, so make sure you get your grades right.
The job market has probably never been so competitive and you may be finding it more difficult than you imagined securing a new role. Avoid telling your interviewer that you’ve been for several job interviews already and been unsuccessful; this won’t do your credibility any good.
Avoid sounding desperate by not giving too much information, remain upbeat and present yourself as a candidate who is worth employing
