Your performance during an interview can make or break your chances of landing the job. That is why it’s important to have the best interview possible. It all comes down to if you are prepared and experienced in the art of interviewing. Liberty Staffing Services would like to identify some of the most common interview mistakes people make, and how to avoid them. Common mistakes include the following:
1. Arriving Late
Let’s face it – arriving late to an interview does not make a good first impression. You will appear unprepared, flustered, and selfish for wasting your interviewer’s time. Not to mention that you’ll be displaying a lack of time management skills. Make sure to arrive on time to your interview. To do this, make the necessary arrangements prior to your interview to ensure that you arrive on time. Take into account traffic, construction, the weather, and the possibility of getting lost, and give yourself plenty of extra time to get to your interview.
2. Dressing Unprofessionally
Not sure what to wear for your interview? Dress for the job that you want. A potential employer will judge you based on what you’re wearing. To prep for this, consider the type of job that you are applying for and think of what would be work wear appropriate. If you’re still having trouble, ask a friend or family member for advice. Always remember to keep things professional.
3. Responding With One Word Answers or Talking Too Much
A common mistake that most candidates make is replying with one word answers during a job interview. One word answers will not give an employer a lot of information to go on. And in most situations, if an employer does not have a lot of information about you, they may consider you a risk to hire.
The flip side to this is when a candidate talks too much during an interview. When this happens, often candidates don’t completely answer the question asked by the interviewer. A candidate can go on and on about an unrelated topic, and that’s definitely something to avoid during an interview. If you’ve had the problem of talking too much, it’s a good idea to pause and reflect after an interviewer asks you a question. That way you will take some time to organize your thoughts and formulate a response which answers the topics brought up.
4. Not Asking Questions
The purpose of an interview is not only for the employer to get to know you, but also for you to get to know the company and potential coworkers. So make sure to ask questions during the interview process. The more thought-provoking questions that you ask, the more engaged and interested you will appear to the interviewer. We suggest preparing a list of questions before you head into the interview.
5. Not Following Up
A lot of candidates make the mistake of not following up after the interview. It’s common courtesy to thank your interviewer, either by phone or email. By following up with the interviewer, you will show the employer that you are still interested in the position.
While these interview mistakes are common, they can be easily avoided if you follow the tips above. For further assistance, please contact Liberty Staffing Services prior to your interview. We would be happy to help you. Liberty Staffing wishes you the best of luck in your interview! 