Interview Bloopers that can Wreck Your Job Chances
The interview is one area where the universal mantra “Come what may” does not save the day. It is not enough that you show up for the meeting, hoping that inspiration will hit you. While regarded as enviable skills in show business, the qualities of spontaneity, improvisation and ad libbing are considered neon signs of weakness in the hiring business.
Yet incredibly, hordes of applicants continue to believe otherwise, spending agonizing hours poring over their resumes and then blindly leaving to fate the outcome of the interview. While a well-crafted resume will definitely help get you to first base, it is the interview where you come face to face with the employer that will ultimately decide whether you will reach home base, or strike out.
Knowing this, a job seeker should never leave to chance or luck this crucial aspect of the job hunt process. Here, career advisors enumerate some of the most common interview pitfalls, and how to skip over them.
COME UNPREPARED
The worst thing you can do is to arrive for an interview with no knowledge about the company save for its name. Make sure that before appearing on the recruiter's door, you have done research on the company's services, products and operations. These are details easily obtained from their annual report or website.
By making an effort to find out about the company's business and the position open, you can conduct an intelligent discussion with the employer about how your talents, skills and experience jibe with the organization's goals.
At the same time, be sure to bring with you all the materials you might need for a successful presentation, such as an extra resume and samples of your work.
ARRIVE LATE
The traffic jam is no excuse to be late for your appointment and thus earn yourself debit points even before the actual interview starts. Estimate travel time, then leave at least 30 minutes earlier to give yourself a generous allowance for any contingencies along the road.
DRESS SLOPPY
Remember what they say about first impressions? You may be tempted in this casual-dress age to dress down, but be warned that conservative dressing still rules the hiring day. Formal clothes show you consider the interview important enough to have taken pains to dress up. Interview fashion rules also frown on chunky jewellery, strong fragrance, thick makeup and loud prints.
REPLY IN HASTE
This is not a contest on who gets to answer first. Due to overeagerness or nervousness, some candidates blurt out their response even before the question sinks in, and fail miserably to disarm the interviewer with their half-baked answers. Listen carefully to be sure you heard the question right, and think your answer through before verbalizing.
Here is where being prepared will come to your rescue. If you have done your homework, you will have ready answers for some of the standard questions thrown your way.
SHOOT YOUR EX-BOSS
It is amazing but some candidates still think they can win the sympathy of the interviewer by ranting against an erstwhile employer. On the contrary, this will mark you as a potential troublemaker and raise serious doubts in the recruiter's mind about the real reason you left your job. Focus only on elaborating on your own accomplishments, and squash any impulse to gripe against your former superior.
FOCUS ON YOUR OWN INTEREST
Of course, we are all searching for that dream job that comes complete with a fantastic benefit package. But you do not have to say that.
Do not come to the interview intent on finding out from the interviewer what the firm can give you. You are marketing yourself, not the other way around, so concentrate your energies on convincing the employer that you are the right candidate for the job.
TALK MONEY TOO SOON
Never inquire about the salary during the first interview. It gives the interviewer an inkling into what your utmost consideration is. Don't broach the pay topic until you receive a job offer.
And again, you should have made the necessary investigation and research on the salary scale for the position so that you can negotiate effectively.
NOT ASKING QUESTIONS
If the recruiter asks if you have any questions, take him up on it. You could pose questions about the company's directions, plans, culture, or the specifics and expectations of the job – queries that underline your keen interest in the firm and position.
ACT DESPERATE OR APOLOGETIC
It is true that jobs are harder to find nowadays but you have some pride. Do not be overeager to please or too willing to accept everything. Maintain good posture, extend a firm handshake, flash friendly teeth, and strive for an alert and confident attitude.
Be positive about yourself and your skills. Avoid the urge to apologize for being “overqualified”, being “too old” or being “too inexperienced”. You would not have been invited to the interview if the hirer had not thought you had the required qualifications and credentials.
IGNORE PROPER ETIQUETTE
Interviewing requires the observance of certain practices and guidelines. For instance, maintain eye contact and wear formal clothing. But more than that, hiring officers say they appreciate a “thank you letter” after the interview as a sign of basic courtesy and proof of interest in the position by the candidate.
Perhaps, you can add more to this list. Think it over and use your initiatives to make out what works best for you.
|
