1. Show
up late and/or disheveled
This may seem unnecessary to mention, but it's
one of the most important parts of the interview
process. Showing up late, smelling like smoke,
chewing gum, or having messy hair or clothes can
all give impressions of being disorganized,
untrustworthy, irresponsible, and incompetent.
Just keep in mind that you're not the only person being interviewed, so little things like showing up on time might not have a tremendous upside, but showing up late will make you stand out--in a bad way. Show up early to an interview, and make sure you look (and smell) the part for the job.
2. Leave
your cell phone on
This may also seem obvious, but how many times
have you been somewhere--at the movies, in a
class, at work--and all of a sudden you hear the
latest Black Eyed Peas song blaring out of
someone's purse? It happens. And just like
showing up late or unprepared, it'll be a small
thing that says a lot: irresponsible, forgetful,
unreliable.
At worst, it could show that you are not taking the interview seriously and are not that interested in the job. We won't even mention answering a phone call during the interview--hopefully that's too obvious.
3. Show
up mentally unprepared
Mental preparation will make a huge difference.
One of the most important aspects is to ensure
that you do research on the company and
position. The last thing you want is to ask
basic questions about the organization and your
role.
You should also research interview questions. Even if this is your first job interview, it doesn't have to seem that way. There are a number of sites that list common job-interview questions. Think of answers to questions like these: Why do you want this job? What value can you add to the company? What are your strongest skills? What are your biggest weaknesses?
Imagine that you are the person doing the hiring, and think of what questions you would ask someone. Practicing and thinking about these questions will make you calmer and more confident during the interview. You don't have to have the answers memorized--it helps if you seem like you're thinking of them on the spot--so practicing them with a friend, or even just considering your answers, will lead to a smoother interview process.
4. Show
up physically unprepared
Being physically prepared means showing up with
the correct physical objects. Bring an extra
copy of your CV and reference list; bring a pen
and notebook to write down any pertinent
information or phone numbers. This also means
physically preparing for the interview: shaving,
making sure that your hair is neat and that your
clothes are clean and pressed.
5. Be a
wallflower
It's important to be involved and engaged in the
interview process, so don't be a passive
participant. Speak clearly and with confidence,
and don't ever answer questions with "I don't
know." This is especially important when you're
asked about your salary expectations.
Also, when there is a chance for you to ask questions, don't stay silent; ask at least one question. It's best to come prepared with a question to ask--one that you think will not be answered during the interview process.
6 Get
too personal
It's best to focus on ways in which you can be
professionally helpful to the company. So don't
talk about your personal life unless you're
specifically asked; focus on measurable and
work-related experiences. This is not to say
that you should be impersonal--you can be warm
and professional without going into details
about outstanding debt or personal problems with
former coworkers and family. If you decide to
talk about personal experiences, make sure they
are work appropriate.
7.
Oversell
In an interview, it's not just "yes" and "no"
questions. They can be open-ended and require
anecdotes from past jobs, experiences that have
prepared you for the prospective job, and how
your skills are applicable. It's important to
answer the questions succinctly, and to then
wait for the next question. If you can think of
one strong example to back up a question, use
just that one. Talking too much and giving long
but weaker answers are not going to help
you--this is another advantage of preparing and
practicing for the interview.
Overselling can
come across as desperate and possibly
self-centered. Interviewers are doing a number
of interviews, and will appreciate when an
interviewee adequately answers the questions
without taking all day. (Standing out from the
crowd is a must, especially when high
unemployment rates make competition fierce.
Don't miss "5
Ways To Make Your Resume Stand Out.")
The Bottom Line
Take these don'ts as a starting point for the
important things to avoid during an interview.
Overall, it's best to consider the job you're
applying for, and put yourself in the position
of the interviewer. Picture a nightmare
interviewee and do the opposite.