Job Interview Mistakes

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Job Interview Mistakes
And How to Avoid Them

Job interview mistakes occur for many reasons, but they are often the result of poor planning and nervousness; however, if you take care of the former, the latter can be brought under control. I have outlined the most common job interview mistakes below.

1. Inadequate research on the company - The more time you spend researching the company, the more command you will have in the interview. Research the company with a list of questions in mind; this is a good memory aid and should give you a list of issues to discuss with the interviewer, which never fails to impress.

2. Limited understanding of the role - You should have a good understanding of the role before you attend the interview. If possible, call the HR Manager/job agency, or the current jobholder with a list of questions - allow sufficient time for them to come back to you. This knowledge, combined with interview questions you should ask will give you a complete picture of the role you are interviewing for and the job related issues you will inherit when you start the job.

3. Not asking meaningful questions - This issue further illustrates the point made in no. 1 and 2 above. As mentioned, a good understanding of the company will provide you with a list of issues to discuss. In addition to this you should also have a list of interview questions that flesh out the issues you will be faced with if you join the company. This could mean the difference between taking the job and politely excusing yourself and heading for the door.

4. Failure to market your skills - Understanding the job role will give you a good indication of which skills are most important in the role and therefore, which skills you should market. For example, if the job spec indicates that a strong-willed, assertive person is required for the role, it's pointless spending too much time coming up with examples of how diplomatic you are; better to focus on examples of how you have dealt assertively with situations (although dealing assertively with people requires a degree of diplomacy). Make sure you have a couple of examples for each skills set that illustrate why you fit the bill. Failure to understand the role will cause you to wing it, which will be immediately apparent.

5. Not providing enough details - When providing examples or answering case questions, walk the interviewer through the process you used to solve the problem - recruiters are interested in your approach to problem solving. Be sure to mention the issues and obstacles you were faced with while tackling the problem. Provide a result, whether positive or negative. If negative, show what changes you have put in place to facilitate a positive outcome in the future.

6. Dressing down for the interview - Failure to dress up for an interview will send a message to the interviewer that you are not serious about the role. The interview may conclude that your attitude to your attire is an indication of your attitude towards your work. Remember, when it comes to interviews, dress for where you would like to be, not where you are. Whether male or female, a business suit is a must when interviewing for an office-based job.

7. Poor body language - I can't stress enough the importance of a firm hand shake. A limp-wrist greeting is very off putting, as is limited eye contact and a monotone voice. Try smiling; not a rictus grin but a calm smile that is most evident in your eyes, it will relax your face and relax the interviewer. It will also show confidence and enthusiasm on your part. Make an effort to be yourself; this will also help you to be more relaxed.

8. Not listening - Focus on the interviewer and what is being said. In an interview situation it's easy to focus on how you are coming across and what the interviewer might be thinking of you, and forget to listen to the interviewer. The fact is, if you are focused on the interviewer's words you will have less opportunity to be nervous. The interviewer will often tell you things that you will later have to rely on to answer a question, so try to assimilate and retain as much information as possible.

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