No matter how long you have been a successful business professional, a job interview can be nerve-wracking. It’s normal to feel the pressure of being analyzed by a hiring manager, but sometimes anxiety can cause us to make mistakes. Here are 3 mistakes to avoid for a successful interview.
- You are underprepared. We all know we should prepare for an interview, but some feel that printing out their resume and being at the designated location 15 minutes early is enough. This is not enough for a successful interview. Others feel that since they have already been on many interviews they know what questions will be asked. But not all companies are the same: do your homework! Look up the company online to find out what you can about them and be prepared to compliment them on something that you appreciate about them.
- You brag. You want to sell yourself as a good fit for the job position, but be careful not to overdo it. Only choose 3 of your top strengths to talk about. When talking about your strengths, keep it short and to the point using a sentence or two to explain how you use each strength. Only elaborate beyond that if the hiring manager asks for more information. Don’t pretend that you don’t have a weakness; hiring managers appreciate sincerity. When asked what your biggest weakness is, be honest.
- You don’t show emotion. Don’t let your nerves get the best of you. If you want the job, ask for it! While you don’t want to seem overeager or desperate, if you are excited about the job position let the hiring manager know. You can do this through your facial expressions, body language, and positive expressions.
For more interviewing tips, get your copy of Career Coach Katie Weiser’s new book, Answers to the Top 20 Interview Questions: Conquering the Job Interview Process today!
