What Not to Do in Your Interview

Making sure to cover all of the interviewing essentials is fantastic. However, it's not always enough, especially if you don't avoid some of the common interview pitfalls. Brush up on these top 5 interview don'ts to make sure you put the best foot forward in your next interview.

Overtalking

• Interviews can make us nervous and put us on the spot with questions we don't know the answer to, and more often than not this pushes us into a frantic space which we fill with words that do nothing to help our case.  If you don't know the answer to a question, admit it, and then give it your best shot. Usually, interviewers are not trying to trip you up, but tough questions will come along every now and then.  To prepare for these moments, take a look at this article that discusses the most common tough interview questions.

Repeating Your Resumé

• A common mistake in both cover letters and interviews is the tendency to reiterate what you have already provided in your resumé.  If the interviewer wanted only that information, he or she would not have invited you in for an interview. The purpose of the interview is to get a sense of who the applicant is exactly, and learn information that is not on the one page resumé.  So express these things that the interviewer likely does not know or could not have guessed about you. Be earnest and present, and avoid the obvious.

Passivity

• Employers are looking for someone to engage them, not simply provide answers to their questions.  Your character and your demeanor are as important as your experience in many cases, and being able to function effectively and benefit the working environment is an important part of any job. So be active, ask questions back to the interviewer, propose alternative and multiple answers to their questions, and stay engaged and focused.

Going in Blind

• Know the company you are interviewing for!  This is perhaps one of the most common mistakes made in interviews.  If you know the company, you can respond to questions in a way that makes your qualifications most attractive, and more importantly, shows an ardent interest on your part in the company itself. It will be hard for an interviewer to believe that you want the job if you do not know much about the establishment. Employers will be even more impressed if you have knowledge of the industry.

Doubting Yourself

• An interviewer may doubt your qualifications or suitability for a position, but if you are convinced you are good for the job then you should be able to convince them as well.  Larger companies can be more discriminating in who they hire, but the interview is what you make it and the more confidence you have in yourself the more confidence they can have in you.  For more help, see this video on boosting confidence in interviews.

Most importantly, do not stay up all night preparing and do not pick an outfit that you aren't comfortable in.  Dress presentably but comfortably,  get your rest, avoid heavy colognes and perfumes, smoking before the interview, and try to avoid fidgeting.  Stay calm, and practice, practice, practice.