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Credit to collegecandy |
Source : Huffington Post
Knowing
what to do in an interview -- and what not to do -- can make or break your job
hunt. Apart from the more obvious interview mistakes, such as a poor
appearance, limp handshake or lack of eye content, some mistakes might not
immediately come to mind. Kevin Robson, a London-based recruitment consultant
with Capable Consultants Limited, said, "Candidate mistakes can reflect a
lack of respect, a lack of desire or both."
Respect
during an interview is paramount. "One of my personal favorites was when a
candidate came into the office with 'Eye of the Tiger' playing on their
smartphone," said Val Matta, vice president of business development at
CareerShift. "I understand the intention -- to show excitement about the
job ... however, it doesn't really say anything about what kind of employee the
young man was going to be."
Here
are 10 more interview mistakes you'll want to avoid at all costs.
Mistake
No. 1: Arriving Late or Not at All
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If
you're running late, call and inform the company. If you will be more than 10
minutes late, call and ask if the interviewers would rather reschedule. Kevin
Crane, a retired U.S. Special Agent and author of "Access Granted,"
told GOBankingRates, "The candidate should have called and explained that
they were running late and ascertain if it was still OK to come in for the
interview. There may have been other candidates lined up for timely interviews
already."
According
to Crane, never miss an interview and then attempt to call days later to
reschedule. "The candidate should have canceled as soon as possible and
then rescheduled at that time."
Mistake
No. 2: Inadequate Research and Preparation
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Adequate
research should provide ideas for insightful questions. Common interview
mistakes include uninspired questions or no questions at all, which can reflect
a lack of interest or initiative.
According
to Barry Maher, motivational speaker and author, "One applicant I know
went far beyond checking out the company's website and online articles about
the company and actually called a number of employees who held the type of
position she was applying for as well as several of their managers."
Maher
explains that in responding to the interviewer questions, "the candidate
was able to show her understanding of the specific issues these employees faced
and the ways the company wanted to deal with those issues." Now, that's
going above and beyond and will surely help your chances when trying to secure
a position.
Mistake
No. 3: Criticizing a Former Employer
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Negativity
of any form in an interview can be construed as bitterness, particularly when
it is aimed at a former employer. If you must describe a negative experience
such as a lay-off or a conflict, do so by stressing the positive.
Tim
Toterhi is an executive coach and author of "The Introvert's Guide to Job
Hunting." According to Toterhi, "Instead of venting, take the time to
briefly note what you learned, what you accomplished and how this opportunity
is the logical progression of your career. If pressed for why similar growth is
not available in your current company, stay positive and offer a logical reason
such as company size, newness of next level management or your desire to
broaden your experience by switching industries."
Mistake
No. 4: Stumbling Over Predictable Questions
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Some
questions are practically guaranteed to come up in an interview and not having
a well-rehearsed, well thought-out answer will be disappointing to any
interviewer. You need an answer that will either resonate with them or make
them remember you.
For
example, "Where do you see yourself in five years?" is not inviting
the response, "To be married and living in a big house." When asked
about your weaknesses, recount a previous experience and explain what you
learned. For example, "It taught me that my reaction to a problem is more
important than the problem itself."
According
to Toterhi, "Sometimes you simply don't have the required experience or a
specific skill spelled out in the job description or sought by the interviewer.
Instead, demonstrate your integrity by acknowledging the gap ... then note a
relevant trait you have that has yet to be explored. For example, maybe your
volunteer experience can make up for a shortfall in formal education ... In the
end, you both want the role to work."
Mistake
No. 5: Using "I" Rather Than "We"
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Credit to entrepreneur.com |
When
describing your achievements, it's natural to use the first person
"I." However, using "we" or referring to "the
team" can show an interviewer that you encourage growth from other
employees and appreciate the contributions of others.
"In
a world of self-promoters, it's refreshing to find a candidate who acknowledges
the efforts of others," said Toterhi. "That said, it's important not
to inadvertently dilute your contributions. Be specific about your role in the
accomplishment and detail exactly how you achieved it by noting the situation
you faced, the action you took and the results you achieved."
Robson
suggests including words such as "colleagues," "support"
and "advice" in your responses as well. These keywords can help relay
that you're a real team player and respect the support and hard work of those
around you.
Mistake
No. 6: Failing to Interview the Interviewers
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An
employer wants to feel certain that you will stay in the job for the long haul.
One way to assure the employer that you are the right person is to collect as
much information from the interviewers as they do from you so that you can make
an informed decision if you receive an offer.
According
to Monique Honaman, CEO of ISHR Group, "Candidates make a big mistake when
they spend the entire interview selling themselves and no time interviewing the
prospective employer. This should be a two-way discussion. We have coached many
clients who jumped at a new role only to realize that they did not do their due
diligence on the company and found out they didn't 'fit' with the
culture."
So,
always ask questions and interview your interviewer. This can also extend your
interview, which can be helpful for you. Robson suggests that the length of
your interview is a good indicator of your success.
"If
you're in for a minimum of 45 minutes, you're 75 percent of the way
there," he said. "Every additional minute implies another 1 percent
certainty of good performance, so 46 minutes equals 76 percent and 47 minutes
equals 77 percent. The way to extend the interview is to ask questions and
build on interview minutes."
Mistake
No. 7: Asking About Vacation or Daily Hours
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Inquiring
about a typical day is acceptable interview etiquette, but asking about typical
hours is not. Although a practical question, it can show more of a concern for
what the company can do for you rather than what you can offer the company.
"I
was involved in an interview recently where the first three questions from the
applicant were, in order, 'How much vacation time do I get?', 'How long do I
have to be here before I'm eligible for a vacation?' and 'How long before I
start to accrue additional weeks of vacation?'" said Maher. "What had
looked like a great applicant, now looked like someone who couldn't wait to get
out of work."
Maher
continued, "The best questions show not just an interest in the job, but
an interest in helping the company accomplish its goals. 'What would the
perfect employee for this job look like for you?', 'In the best of all possible
worlds, what would you like me to accomplish for you in three months? In a
year? In five years?" Keep these positive questions in mind for your next
interview, and skip asking about hours and vacation time.
Mistake
No. 8: Disclosing Your Current Salary
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Credit to Forbes |
Mark
Grimm, a speaker and communications coach, said, "Telling the prospective
employer what you make is a mistake for so many reasons. It gives them leverage
when you get to salary. It may lead to them thinking less about your skills in
circumstances where you were underpaid. It can create an artificial starting
point that otherwise would have been higher. Just say, 'That's proprietary
information,' if asked."
Some
employers insist that you provide a ballpark figure for your desired salary.
This gives you the opportunity to avoid a disappointing offer that you would be
inclined to refuse by never disclosing your current salary. Give them the
salary range you're expecting, not the salary you're making at your current
job.
Mistake
No. 9: Making Assumptions on Gender
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Credit to businessinsider |
Don't
assume an interviewer's gender based on their name. Elle Kaplan is the CEO of
LexION Capital Management, one of the only women-owned and run wealth
management firms in the nation.
Kaplan
said, "I see many make the mistake of assuming I'm a man during phone
interviews. Nothing can ruin an interview quicker than hearing someone request
'Mr. Kaplan' or being asked to be transferred to the CEO. Not only does this
show a lack of research, but also makes a rude assumption about gender in the
industry."
Remember:
Do your research, and know your interviewer. "I'd highly recommend all
potential employees do their due diligence and avoid assuming anything before
stepping into an interview or picking up the phone," is Kaplan's sage
advice.
Mistake
No. 10: Giving Up
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John
Hersin is a former Google executive and CEO of the technology recruiting
software company Connectifier. He sees candidates who try to redirect questions
and seem to give up too easily.
Hersin's
advice is: "Don't ever give up. It's becoming more common for candidates
to face questions about hypothetical situations or questions that require some
analysis to come to an answer. Many people are so fearful of struggling with
such questions that they try to redirect the conversation, or they just give up
in hopes of moving on to something they are better about."
"If
the interviewer asks you something, they often care as much about how you
approach the question and that you keep pushing yourself in the face of a
challenge," Hersin said. "No employer wants you to give up when
things get hard on the job, so don't do that in an interview either."
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