Guest Author: Nikki Ruth, CV writer and founder of job interview coaching company My CV and Me. Nikki has over 10 years experience conducting job interview coaching and she is an active blogger.
Website: My CV and Me
A big part of a successful interview is avoiding simple mistakes. Below are some of the worst and most common interview mistakes that even the most intelligent graduates make and how you can avoid them.
1. Not being prepared – If you really want the job, you need to do some homework. There’s no point in turning up on the day and crossing your fingers. You need to show the interviewer you’re the best person for the job. Find out all you can about the company, using their website. Read press releases to find out about their products, customers and competitors. You are looking for indications of where a company is going and what problems the company and the industry are having.
2. Not knowing yourself – Make sure you know what sets you apart from other candidates and be specific about what you’ve done that has made you successful. Know your background without having to refer to your CV. There is no one better than you to tell your story.
3. Exaggerating work experience – If you have limited or no experience, then focus on identifying the transferable skills you have demonstrated at school, university or through internships such as communication skills and managing people and budgets. Acknowledge your lack of experience but stress how much you want to work for company. Bring samples of work you’re proud of. This will show the interviewer what you are capable of. Also show a willingness to learn! Recruiters know if you’re exaggerating by vague responses, missing information and inconsistencies. If there is anything that appears odd, they will ask the same question in various ways. If you are telling the truth your answers will remain consistent.
4. Talking too much – There is nothing much worse than interviewing someone who goes on and on. The interviewer really doesn’t need to know your whole life story. Even if the interview seems casual, keep it professional, don’t share unnecessary personal information and keep your answers succinct, to-the-point and don’t ramble. The best way to do this is to prepare and practice your interview answers beforehand.
5. Sounding too rehearsed – While it’s important to practise your answers, try not to sound too rehearsed. When you are practising, write the answers in bullet points which will stop you memorizing information word-for-word.
6. First impressions count – A limp handshake, not making eye contact, chewing gum and clock watching are all a big turn off. Remember an interview is a formal conversation avoid filler words like ‘um’, ‘ah’ and ‘you know’ and indecisive phrases like ‘I think’ and ‘I guess’. A lot of interviewers make up their minds in the first two minutes and spend the remaining 28 re-enforcing their judgment.
7. Not mastering the art of body language – The best way to be aware of your interview body language and the way you are coming across is to practice in front of a mirror. This way you can be confident that you are sending the right message in your job interview. You ideally want the interviewer to be doing the same things you are like maintaining eye contact, nodding, smiling, leaning forward or sitting relaxed.
8. Treating the receptionist rudely – The receptionist is the first person you’ll meet in the company and they often take you to the interview. The interviewer will usually ask their opinion of you after you leave.
9. Not removing unprofessional photos/content on social networking sites – With the popularity of social networking sites, it’s easier than ever to find personal information about candidates. Don’t give a potential employer a reason to doubt your credibility. If you have a Facebook page keep it clean or adjust your privacy settings to private.
10. Not asking questions – Having no questions indicates that you have not thought much about the position. Prepare at least three questions to ask the interviewer. One of the most effective questions to ask is: “What do you think my biggest challenge would be in this position?” You can discover if the interviewer has any concerns about you and can address these there and then. Don’t overpower the interviewer with questions about details that really won’t count in the long run.
Love this article, Grace!
Another option to master body language is to record yourself with a webcam. You could find a list of interview questions and answer each one, pretending that the camera is the interviewer. Or, for an even more realistic effect, you could have a friend ask the questions.
Optimal Resume also has an option that will let you create virtual practice interviews and record your answers with a webcam. (But you knew that 🙂