Five Critical Interview Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Five Critical Interview Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Congratulations! You’ve made it past all of the screening and background checks and finally have an interview scheduled. You put in a lot of effort to get this far, and you really need to nail the interview. Avoid making these five critical mistakes and improve your chances of having a successful meeting.

Poor Research

It is important that you do your homework before the interview. There are three key areas for you to research – the company, the position, and the interviewer. The company website, social media pages, annual reports, news reports, customer reviews, along with current and former employees are great tools to gain knowledge about your prospective employer. Start by carefully reading the job description, then follow up with internet searches. Meanwhile, LinkedIn and social media pages can provide you information about the hiring manager.

Trying Too Hard

Too many candidates blow their interviews by trying too hard to tell the interviewer what they want to hear or overstating their abilities. Keep in mind that if the recruiter didn’t think you had the necessary experience you would not have made it to the interview stage. At this point the Hiring Manager is trying to get to know you as a person rather than a list of skills on a resume. Relax. Be yourself.

Complaining About a Current or Former Employer

Never complain or make disparaging remarks about current or former companies, bosses, or coworkers during an interview. If your former place of employment was intolerable, complaining is just going to make you appear pessimistic. Keep it positive.

Not Asking Questions

An interview is a two-way conversation and the Hiring Manager will expect you to ask questions. If you ask too few questions you risk being interpreted as not interested in the position. Your questions should delve into the company’s culture, environment, mission, etc. While the interviewer is gauging if you are a good fit for the company, you should be assessing how the company fits with you. Keep in mind that it is not appropriate to ask about compensation or benefits until later in the process when the Hiring Manager brings it up.

Arriving Late or Too Early

Obviously arriving late to an interview is not a good thing, but what about arriving too early? You should check in for your interview approximately ten minutes before the scheduled time. Arriving too early can put undue stress on the Hiring Manager who likely has a busy schedule. Plan to arrive approximately fifteen minutes early. Use the extra time to review your notes and research before checking in with the reception.