You have secured an interview for your dream job. Just reaching this part of your job search is fantastic news and something you should be very proud of.
Your CV has given the Hiring Manager a flavour of who you are and what you can do. They can see you have the skills and experience to do the job. A job interview is a time to prove this to them, whilst demonstrating that they will feel comfortable working with you and trusting you to do the job.
But as a Recruiter, I have witnessed competent candidates make the same mistakes at interviews, failing to cross the finish line and nab a job offer.
Here are my top 5 mistakes NEVER to make when attending a job interview…
Mistake 1 – Not doing your research.
When I worked for one of the Big 4, candidates were routinely asked, ‘Why do you want to work for us?’ So many candidates responded, ‘I would like to work for one of the Big 4.’ To us, as a Recruitment team and Hiring Managers, that was a massive red flag. If they had researched the organisation, they weren’t demonstrating that with this response. Such a generic answer showed a lack of interest and motivation.
Whatever company you are interviewing for, they will ask why you want to work for them. So it’s essential to do some research – who is the business? What do they stand for? Who are their competitors? Have they been in the news recently? If so, why? The answers to these questions will enable you to confidently articulate why you want to work there when asked the ‘why do you want to work for us’ question.
Mistake 2 – Not listening to the interviewer’s question
Preparing answers to the questions you think will be asked should be an essential part of your job interview preparation. But it can be super tempting to give these answers even if they don’t relate to the question asked.
So, even though you have pre-prepared some great responses, please LISTEN to and answer the actual questions. Keep these responses concise and to the point (try not to ramble), and you will be fine.
Mistake 3 – Using ‘we’ not ‘I.’
An interview is a chance for the Hiring Manager to decide if they want to hire YOU for the job – not you and your previous team. Yes – being a team player is excellent. But we want to know what role YOU played in your last company. Are you the superstar we’re looking to hire, or did you sit back and let others carry you along? The phrase, ‘we did this’ or ‘we did that’ demonstrates the latter.
You will find it easier to talk about your accomplishments if you use the STAR technique:
Situation – share some context around the challenge faced.
Task – what was YOUR responsibility in overcoming this challenge?
Action – what step-by-step action did YOU take to solve the problem?
Result – how did this benefit your employer? Did it save x amount of time, x amount of money, etc.?
Mistake 4 – Not dressing smartly
I’ve known a candidate to be rejected for a role because they turned up for an interview without wearing a tie. And although many companies are becoming more relaxed post-pandemic, you don’t know how your interviewer personally feels about the dress code. So, I would always advise you to play it safe by wearing smart business attire for an interview.
And – yes, this even applies to Zoom interviews (sorry!)…
Mistake 5 – Arriving late
Arriving late for a job interview is one of the worst mistakes you can make because it creates a wrong first impression that will be hard to overcome. You’ve instantly created another hurdle for yourself.
Aim to arrive at least 15 minutes early for a face-to-face interview and 10 minutes early for a virtual interview.
Plan your route or test your tech beforehand. For a virtual interview, make sure everything is working (laptop charged, Zoom dial-in correct, webcam on, etc.). If attending a face-to-face interview, plan an alternative route in case the worst happens, and you get stuck in traffic. By factoring in extra time, you will cover yourself for any eventuality.
So, there you have it – my top 5 mistakes NEVER to make when attending a job interview. And if you want to know how to interview the right way, impress your interviewer, and land your dream job, make sure you check out my blog post: How to prepare for an interview. You’ll be receiving those job offers in no time!
Recognising these common interview pitfalls is the first step towards job interview success. But if you want to elevate your performance and truly leave a lasting impression, our Interview Confidence Boost session is your ace in the hole. Tailored feedback, practice with real-time scenarios, and expert advice will prepare you to handle even the toughest questions with poise and confidence. Ready to turn interviews into offers? Check out our Interview Confidence Boost session and step into your next interview with the assurance of a seasoned pro.