Ten Critical Job Interview Mistakes
Critical Mistake 01 – Inadequate Preparation for the Interview – Show up to your interview with the right preparation. Research the company and the job that you are applying for long before you leave for your interview.
Critical Mistake 02 – Arriving Too Early or Too Late – The best way to arrive to your interview is to show up ten to fifteen minutes early. Arriving too early or too late can seriously hurt your chances of job interview success.
Critical Mistake 03 – Having the Wrong Attitude – Your attitude says a lot about how serious you are about the job and the job interview. Have the right attitude and avoid verbal and non-verbal cues that you are distracted or that your heart is not truly in the interview.
Critical Mistake 04 – Being Unprepared for Interview Questions – Most interviewers ask very similar questions which means that you can prepare yourself a great deal before you walk in to your interview. Practice your answers to the tougher interview questions and you will have better luck answering them in the interview.
Critical Mistake 05 – Not Asking the Right Questions – At the end of most interviews, the person who is interviewing you will ask "Do you have any questions for me?" You need to be prepared to ask questions that are relevant to the job in question.
Critical Mistake 06 – Dressing Inappropriately – While most people think they have a good idea of what interview dress is like, many are wrong. It would be advisable for you to scope out the work place beforehand so that you can dress appropriately before you arrive.
Critical Mistake 07 – Asking about Salary or Benefits – There are a number of questions that you should absolutely refuse to bring up during the interview process, one of which relates to salary and benefits which should not be brought up until a job offer is on the table.
Critical Mistake 08 – Not Arriving with the Right Documents – Preparing yourself with the right documents, including work samples, references, referrals, recommendations and copies of your curriculum vitae or resume is vital to being ready for an interview and showing your interviewer that you are serious about the job.
Critical Mistake 09 – Being Dishonest or Impolite – Attitude is everything. Be honest, be polite, and give your prospective employer a good impression of who you are. After all, your interviewer may very well be your future boss!
Critical Mistake 10 – Marketing Yourself Incorrectly – Job interviews are all about marketing yourself right. Sell your skills, talents and hobbies and make yourself memorable and you will go far. The more memorable you are, the more you will stand out from other candidates who are trying to get the same job that you are interested in. Stand out from the crowd in your interview, and you truly will go far.