Top 5 Job Interview Mistakes

Written by Tricia Barendregt.

Are you landing interviews but not getting callbacks? Have you ever
felt like you bombed an interview but couldn’t pinpoint where it all went wrong? WCA talked to hiring managers to find the “Top Job Interview Mistakes”. This is what they had to say:

1. Making a negative comment about a previous employer. This is a big no-no. Talking negatively about a previous employer reflects poorly on you. The potential employer may see it as “smack talk” and may worry that you will say the same thing about them.

2. Not asking questions. Asking questions is a way to show your interest. This is another way for employers to get to know what is important to you and what kind of person you are. If you don’t ask questions, it’s a missed opportunity to set yourself apart from other candidates.

3. Not learning about a company or a job before the interview. Not doing your homework makes you look like you don’t care. Also, it’s important that you research the company and the job before the interview to make sure it meets your needs. You don’t want to wait until you are in the middle of the interview to find out if something is a deal breaker for you.

4. Being unprepared to answer questions about yourself and your experience. Not providing an example of a time where you had to overcome a negative habit, issue or situation prevents them from getting to know you. Explaining how you problem-solve in a particular situation gives them an insight to your personality and strengths that they can’t learn from by looking at a resume. It also shows how you might be able solve their particular problems.

5. Not engaging with the interviewer during the interview. If you act like you are in an interrogation, they can’t get to know you and you appear uninterested. Employers want to get to know the real you. Allow your personality to show.

Other interview blunders to avoid:

• Showing up late – make sure you are on time (or even early) to show that you are reliable and respect their time!
• Letting your phone ring or even answering it during the interview– turn it off!
• Looking unprofessional – wear the proper attire. This is subjective and it depends on the job and company – another reason to do your homework on the company and its culture!
• Asking about money or benefits too early – it may cast the wrong impression that it’s all you care about.

For more information on how to ace a job interview, read our blog post with tips from M.P. Mueller here. Remember that the negotiation process starts a lot earlier than you would think. Read Keep Calm and Negotiate for the next steps in pursuing your next opportunity and refer to the Women Communicators of Austin’s Career Services for additional help.