If you want to be seriously considered for a job, you need to prepare carefully. One or two missteps can get you ruled out as a candidate, even if you have the right experience and skills. If you really want to be hired, here are the things you should not do during a job interview.
(Read also: 15 curious things that can affect whether you get hired, and that don’t depend on you)
1. Not researching the company
Look up information about the company before the interview. Don’t even think about asking, in the interview, what the company does and how it is organised: if you do, the interviewer will believe you’re only after a salary and don’t care where it comes from.
2. Turning up badly dressed
Your appearance says a lot about you, so when you go to an interview, keep the company’s image in mind and dress accordingly. You don’t have to wear a suit, since that depends on each company, but you do need to look neat and professional. If the company is conservative, it goes without saying that certain modern accessories can be a red flag for the recruiter.
3. Bringing someone along
Showing up to the interview with family or friends suggests a lack of independence and initiative. So try to avoid it.
4. Not practising interview questions
Being spontaneous is fine, but if you hesitate or stumble over any of the standard interview questions, it will look as if you haven’t prepared and are unpolished. Better not to take the risk: study the typical interview questions and come up with short answers that include your own experiences.
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5. Arriving late
Even if it only takes you 15 minutes to get there, don’t leave with just enough time. There might be a traffic jam that day, or you might not find anywhere to park. If you arrive late, the interviewer may think you’re not an organised person, or that you don’t value other people’s time. Being unpunctual before you’ve even started working already gives a bad impression. So aim to arrive about 5 minutes before your appointment.
6. Not being friendly to the receptionist
How you behave with people at every level of the company says a lot about you as a person. Receptionists are the eyes and ears of companies. What’s more, many companies take the receptionist’s feedback into account when considering candidates. Be friendly, smile, accept the visitor badge if you’re offered one, and say thank you on your way out.
(Read: A brilliant strategy for hiring only nice people)
7. Not switching off your phone
Make sure your mobile phone is switched off, since it could ring in the middle of the interview and create an awkward situation.
8. Showing nerves or stress
Non-verbal communication accounts for 55% of all interactions. Everything is on display during an interview. Sit down, don’t fidget, and keep your arms and hands relaxed. Look at each person when they speak. All of this makes you come across as confident and ready to take on a new job. Avoid any gesture that shows your nerves, such as biting your nails, moving your chair around or tapping the table with your pen.
(Read: 6 mind games interviewers often play in job interviews)
9. Not being communicative
When you’re asked whether you have experience similar to this job, your CV probably speaks for itself. A simple yes or no ought to be enough, but in reality that’s the worst way to answer. If you have an example from your experience that shows how you handled a situation, this is your moment to shine. If you don’t, then this is your chance to explain how you would solve a problem, or to say that you would be keen to learn. If you answer in single words, the interviewer will think you’re not very communicative.
10. Not asking questions
You need to decide whether this job is a good fit for you. Ask about a typical day at the company, or about training opportunities. Ask where the company expects to be in five years and how you can help.
Go to the interview with at least three prepared questions that will help you make a good decision. Never ask how much holiday you’ll get or when you’ll get a pay rise. Besides, asking questions shows that you’re interested in the job. When the interview is over, thank the company and the interviewer for the opportunity.
With good preparation and attention to detail, you can land the job. Good luck!
See also: My 3 most surreal job interviews
Featured image: Centpacrr (Digital scan), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
