Are you making these job interview mistakes?
Nervous about an upcoming interview? We get it. Interviews can come with a lot of pressure and cause stress. How do you prepare to nail it? A good first step is to know what NOT to do. Once you know where most candidates make mistakes, it’s easy to stand out. Here are 5 job interview mistakes you may be making that our job interview coaching services recommend you avoid.
Not being honest
This is a big one. First, you should never lie on your resume. However, that isn’t the only thing that can get you into trouble. If you don’t know the answer to a question, don’t make one up. It’s okay to say “I don’t know”. If you try to make up an answer on the spot, your interviewer will be able to tell. Admitting you don’t know something may not knock you out of the running, but pretending you know something you’re clueless about will!
Focusing on yourself
If you’re rolling your eyes at this one, hear us out. Of course, you want to talk about yourself during your interview. That said, your goal should be to shine a light on how you’ll provide value to the employer. Listen to them and be a problem solver. Explain how you can help them reach their goals. Instead of focusing on yourself and what you want, talk to them about how you can help them achieve what they want. It is important to discuss your accomplishments that match their needs.
Using cliches
Everyone knows the common phrases we think employers want to hear. The problem? These things aren’t a secret. Everyone labels themselves as “detail-oriented” and as a “team player.” Take a step back from these age-old cliches and think about what makes you an asset. What is an employer missing if they don’t hire you? What traits make you irreplaceable? That’s what you want to lead with.
Bashing your past jobs
Maybe your last boss was a total drag, but the interviewer doesn’t need to know that. If you use this language around an interviewer, it creates red flags. Try to pull the good aspects from the roles on your resume, even if it didn’t end well. If the reason you’re no longer in those roles comes up, be respectful. Close that part of the conversation and keep the interview moving.
Not asking questions
Yes, this employer is interviewing you, but you should also see this as an opportunity to get to know them. Come up with a few questions that you’d like the answer. If you need clarification on something, don’t be afraid to ask. This simple shift will make you more credible than the candidate who treats the process as a race and doesn’t stop to take a breath.
Wrapping Up
Now that you know what job interview mistakes to avoid, you can go into your next interview with confidence. This process is not as daunting as it seems when you know what pitfalls to steer clear of. Want to ace your next interview? Book a free career consultation and resume review with iCareerSolutions now, our expert resume writers can help!
