Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid in a Job Interview
Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid in a Job Interview
Mistake #1: Don't Compliment Them
Don't say "I love how you decorated your office!"
Don't compliment them on their clothing or office dcor or anything else. The interview is to sell them on you as the best candidate. Compliments, even if taken in the right way, only get in your way.
Why? Compliments are just too familiar and you often look patronizing while giving them. It's just too risky. If you are a man complimenting a woman, it can be taken the wrong way.
If you are the kind of person who enjoys giving compliments, keep it to published accomplishments.
What to say instead "I admire a company that is able to show growth in a slow economy."
Mistake #2: Avoid Getting Over-Emotional
If you need to tell an emotional story, practice so that you can tell it without it affecting you. Emotion communicates instability and you become a risk they may not want to take on with tears or any uncomfortable emotion.
Don't say: "I really struggled to keep up my job performance during my divorce. So I'm proud that I survived two layoffs before being included in the last one."
Show perspective employers that you've dealt with all the emotions of a difficult time in your career and you're in a much better place.
What to say instead: "It was difficult, but I pulled through and I'm a better person for it."
Mistake #3: Complaining
Don't say: "After the first layoff, they really piled on the work."
Remember that a potential employer cares about how you solve their problems and that you are not a risk. Any form of complaining might cause them to doubt your ability to solve their problems or that you are an attitude risk for them.
If an interviewer asks about a problem you faced at your previous employer, they are more interested in your ability to solve the problem than the actual problem. Make sure your answer highlights how you overcame adversities and cooperated with co-workers.
What to say instead: "Our workload increased after the layoff but we found efficiencies."
Mistake #4: No Questions
Don't say: "I think you covered everything I wanted to know."
Almost every interview gives you time to ask questions. Be prepared with some thoughtful questions or you communicate that you are just looking for a paycheck rather than aspiring to your next career move.
Candidates who don't ask questions also come across as unprepared and unengaged. Hiring managers are more impressed with the questions you bring than the answers you give. Good questions show how you think and how interested you are in the position.
What to say instead: "What are the key qualities of high performers here?"
Mistake #5: Being Too Blunt About Past Mistakes
Don't say: "At my last job, I got fired."
If you were fired, be careful how you communicate it. Words bring out emotions in people and you want to make sure you are using the right words to get the right response.
Don't lie. Identify the risks on your resume from an employer standpoint and practice framing them in productive ways. Think like an employer and find a way to speak to them without the interview circling in the drain.
What to say instead: "It wasn't a good fit at my last job, with their priorities and their culture. But I learned a lot about me, where I thrive, my skills and abilities and what I want to bring to my next position."
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