Job interviews are sometimes your one and only chance at making a good first impression and selling yourself as a viable candidate for a job.
Spending a bit of time and effort preparing for the interview can be the deciding factor in whether or not you make it to the next round, or get the job. Learn to plan for success, approach the interview properly, and avoid common mistakes in job interviews to give yourself the best chance of getting a fresh start.
Do some research about the company ahead of time
You will make an impression as a serious candidate if you come to the interview with some background knowledge about the company and the direction in which it’s heading. Try to figure out the goals of the business or the organization that you’re applying for a job with, getting some sense of their style and the way they situate themselves against their competitors.
Anticipate and practice your answers to common interview questions
The most stressful part of the job interview is figuring out how to answer the questions that you’ll be asked. What does the interviewer want to hear? Trying to do some digging and anticipate possible questions will help you practice your answers beforehand. Come up with answers that are sincere, but still reflect positively on you as a candidate.
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Get there on time. Nothing looks worse than arriving at a job interview late. Show up at the appropriate time, ready to go. If your interview is in an unfamiliar area, drive to the location the day before to make sure you aren’t late because you got lost. Aim for no more than 10 or 15 minutes before your assigned interview time.
Be yourself
At an interview, you’ll likely feel nervous and want to perform your best. It’s a scary situation, no doubt about it. But Try to remember that you don’t need to put on an act to get a job. You just need to be yourself. Focus on remaining calm and listening closely to the conversation as it unfolds. Be yourself
Don’t show up with coffee
For some reason, lots of people think bringing a to-go cup of coffee to a job interview is a great idea. To an interviewer, this looks informal at best and disrespectful at worst. You’re not on your lunch break, so treat yourself to a latte after the interview, not before.
Even if the interview is early, or you might end up waiting a long time to get through with it, don’t show up with a cup of coffee. The plus side is you won’t have to worry about spilling it.
Turn off your phone and put it away
Biggest faux pas of the mobile phone age? Using yours in a job interview. Never ever take your phone out and look at it at any point in the job interview. As far as your interviewer is concerned, you should be a troglodyte who’s never even heard of an app. Turn your phone all the way off, keep it in your car, and never, under any circumstances, give the interviewer the impression that a text message takes precedence over getting this job.
Don’t talk about money
In the interview, it’s not the time to ask about benefits, the possibility of a raise, or really even bring up the topic of money. If you’re applying for a job, it’s time to focus on your skills and qualifications.
Treat your interview like a conversation, not an interrogation
Never get defensive in an interview, even if you feel like you’re not getting on perfectly with the interviewer. It’s supposed to be a conversation, so try to assume the best in people. Nobody is trying to antagonize you on purpose. Treat it as a chance to prove yourself and come up with a good explanation, not a defensive snark.