Interview Mistakes To Avoid

Interviews and first dates; scenarios where almost no one feels comfortable, and almost no one can properly communicate their true, non-nervous self. Yet learning to be confident, calm and collected in a job interview is an essential skill for our careers. Here are some garden variety mistakes to avoid.

Turning Up Late

Get there half an hour early, check out where you have to head and then grab a cup of coffee. Take ten minutes to sit in the sun and go over what you want to say in the interview, think about your key points and key questions. Take the time to relax and turn up for your interview chilled and happy.

 

Bad Body Language

You might have spent a lot of time thinking about what you’re going to say. But if 90% of communication is body language, it’s essential that you’re communicating with the full gamut and not just your words. This doesn’t mean sitting up straight to the point of being uncomfortable; just keep your shoulders back, make eye contact, shake their hands properly (don’t offer your hand limply like a frog princess).

Not Having Documents On Hand

The interviewer might have left your resume in her office. He might have misplaced it, or given it to a colleague. They might not have wanted to print off all your supporting documents. You’ll be ten steps ahead if you can pull a copy out of your briefcase, and you’ll be ten steps behind if you have to hunt around on your iPhone to resend it. In fact, your iPhone should be definitely off, so you won’t be able to find it anyway.

Going In Blind

Not doing any research doesn’t show the interviewer that you are good at thinking on your feet, it shows them that you go into scenarios with no sense of the battlefield. Not a great first impression. It doesn’t take much to prepare: know who your interviewer is and what their role is in company. Find out a couple of the more recent initiatives, projects or acquisitions of the company. Have a look at their structure, and get a feel for how they work through projects.

Bad Manners

The small things matter. Like a first date, there are ‘tells’ that give a key to a person’s personality. I would never go on a second date with someone who was horrible to the waitress, the same is true of an interview. Treat everyone- whether the secretary, the person you meet at the door coming in, the waitress who serves you- with courtesy. It’s all in the details. There are a couple of other similarities with first dates; if it’s at a restaurant, use basic table manners and don’t order anything too messy or expensive. Don’t interrupt or talk over people. As important as your qualifications and ideas are, truly the crucial quality someone is looking for is someone who can work within a team, and work with external partners or clients.

Forgetting The Thank Yous

It might feel incredibly old-fashioned to people of younger generations, but a thank-you note will go a long way. It shows attentiveness and a personal approach. Don’t send a thank-you email, find a nice, professional card and send it the next day. Be sure to thank them when you’re leaving for the opportunity to come in and have a chat. It’s amazing what a bit of common courtesy can achieve.