If you ever had to go on a job hunt, you are aware of how difficult it can be to get yourself an interview, especially when there are hundreds of candidates. The last thing you need is blowing the entire interview by making a costly gaffe, which immediately puts an end to any chance you may have in getting the job. There are lots of common mistakes that most candidates make when they go for an interview. Some mistakes you should avoid at all costs if you want to land the job are:
Insufficient Research
When you don’t take the time to get some background on the company or the requirements for the job opening, it sends a message to the interviewer; you are not very interested in the job or you aren’t aware of what it entails. During an interview, you can expect questions such as “What do you know about the organization?” or “What was it that made you apply for the job?” You should be prepared to respond with examples and specifics that demonstrate how your experience and background make you a great fit for the position.
Rambling Responses
A rambling response leads to you disclosing excessive information about your past job or situation. For instance, if the interviewer wants to know why you want to leave your current job, it is sufficient to say that you are looking for a bigger challenge. Going on a tirade about your co-workers or boss will send up red flags. Also, rambling leads to inadequate responses because they simply take you away from the question.
Not Selling Yourself
A job interview is not the place where you should be bashful about your accomplishments and qualifications. Don’t hesitate in bringing up any experiences under your belt, which are relevant to the position. Your chances of getting hired are greater if you can offer your employer some value. However, make sure you point out your achievements in a way that they don’t seem egotistical and boastful because doing so gives the impression that you are not a team player because you are cocky and self-centered.
Showing Impatience
When you show signs of impatience to the interview, they get the impression that you believe your time is more important than theirs or you would rather be someplace else, which indicates that the job isn’t a very high priority for you. There are some common signs of impatience you want to avoid such as drumming your fingers on the table when the interviewer studies your resume or glancing at your watch frequently during the interview. Furthermore, it will be considered rude if you constantly interrupt the interviewer for answering a question even before they have finished asking.
These job interview mistakes have caused hundreds of candidates to lose out the chance of getting their dream job. It is best to be aware of them so you can learn to avoid them when you are giving an interview. You can even practice for an interview to ensure you don’t make these mistakes.
Another interesting post to help you understand the mistakes you should avoid is here: http://jobgear.co.uk/article/avoid-these-3-costly-mistakes-and-get-hired-quickly.html