An interview is a very complicated and important process. Many people have gone through interviews numerous times and still don’t realize the dos and don’ts. Recent graduates and young adults are especially likely to have little to no idea about interview preparation and behavior. That is why, in this article, we provide 18 mistakes to avoid in an interview.
🔎 No research
By research, we mean seeking any information about the company that will interview you. This includes visiting the company’s website, checking their social media, and reading customer and employee reviews.
Researching the company can help you understand its mission, ideas, and products. This also allows you to evaluate the website itself: what it looks like, how well it works, and how functional it is. If, for example, an IT or graphic design company has a poorly designed and poorly functioning website, you can draw your own conclusions.
❓ Not preparing for typical interview questions
"Where do you see yourself in five years?" is one of those common questions many interviewers ask, regardless of your field of expertise. Your answers to these questions are supposed to give them insight into your level of ambition, planning, and fit for the company.
So, preparing to answer them in advance will put you one step ahead and make you feel more confident in your responses. You can find a sample list of these common questions anywhere on the internet. It’s advisable to think of the answers from different perspectives, write them down, and role-play them with a friend or family member.
You can role-play the whole interview process if you have someone knowledgeable in your field to act as the interviewer.
🤷 Not understanding body language
Body language is not only about crossed arms or avoiding eye contact, although these are also very important. There are several other body language signs to be aware of in an interview:
- Stiff posture. Try to sit in a way that feels most comfortable, but not too loose. A stiff body shows nervousness and lack of confidence.
- Facial expressions are very hard to control (unless you are being interviewed for a movie). To avoid issues with emotions on your face, try to improve your mood before the interview: listen to music you like, read a book to relax, or get more sleep.
- Respect personal space. Leaning in a bit shows interest, but maintain a comfortable distance; don't make the interviewer feel pressured.
- Eye contact is a sign of honesty and self-confidence, so when answering questions, it’s better to look directly at the interviewer.
Following at least some of these rules will indicate you as a friendly, honest, confident, and easy-going candidate, which is very good for your profile.
💃 Inappropriate attire
Your choice of interview attire should depend on the industry and the company you have applied to. Occupations like management or education require a formal style and a high level of neatness. On the other hand, for creative positions like interior designer or photographer, smart-casual or personal style is more suitable.
That means when submitting an interview request, it’s better to inquire about the expected dress code. Don’t worry, this will demonstrate your responsibility and leave a good impression.
⏰ Being late
Nothing ruins an opportunity as much as being late to an interview, especially without notification and a valid reason. Some reasons, such as transportation issues, accidents, or serious unforeseen circumstances, may be considered understandable. However, even a serious reason will not always erase the impression it created.
To minimize the possibility of being late, plan your route in advance, check traffic patterns, and add an extra 15 to 20 minutes to your travel time. A well-prepared, calm journey will help you arrive looking composed and in a positive mood.
😰 Lack of confidence
Your confidence is not about arrogance or feeling superior to others. Your confidence is about how suitable you believe you are for the position and the company.
Lack of confidence indicates that you are unsure about your ability to do the job, unsure about your skills, and unsure about your fit with the company. This is not something an employer is looking for.
🤬 Inappropriate language
This includes not only swearing or other offensive language but also buzzwords, jargon, excessive slang, and filler words.
Inappropriate language indicates a lack of both a serious attitude and self-control. So, if you don’t want to give this impression, pay close attention to what you say.
📵 Distracted by your phone
Showing no interest says a lot about a candidate. Being distracted by everything, especially your cell phone, is a huge red flag for an interviewer, indicating a lack of interest in the process. There is nothing wrong with using your phone while waiting for the interview to begin. However, it’s better to put it away once the interview has begun.
🙉 Not listening
This mistake is connected to the previous one and also shows a lack of interest. It usually happens when a person can’t concentrate on the dialogue and loses track of the topic very easily. It probably won’t be a pleasant conversation if you have to repeat your questions over and over. So, having control over your behavior and the dialogue with an interviewer is crucial.
🤗 Overly personal
Being 'too personal' encompasses various things: sharing personal information, mentioning unrelated people, and recounting life stories. In other words, it involves talking about yourself rather than focusing on your experience and accomplishments.
Some interviewers may seem very friendly and open to you, but keep in mind that it’s their job. They are interested in learning about you from different perspectives, but it doesn’t mean you need to engage in personal topics. Stay professional and don’t feel obligated to answer questions that you feel are too personal or unrelated to your experience or the desired position.
🤡 Not knowing your own resume
It’s common for interviewers to ask you questions about the information on your resume. So it can be very embarrassing, when you are asked about a specific project or accomplishment listed on your resume and can't recall any details.
That is one more reason to avoid lying on your resume. When submitting your resume and application, include only relevant experience and skills that you can prove you possess. Also, if you have a wide range of work history, it’s okay to take a copy with you to look at before the interview.
😈 Badmouthing bosses and colleagues
This is a mistake many people make when they think they are just honestly answering the question "Why have you decided to quit?" It is generally not acceptable to speak negatively about people from your previous workplaces. This is something you can discuss with your friends and family to vent after a bad day at work, but it's not appropriate for a job interview.
When we talk about badmouthing, we don’t mean expressing dissatisfaction with your work conditions or finding some colleagues challenging to work with. However, it is very important how you express these feelings and the language you choose.
🙄 Limiting answers to Yes or No
When an interviewer asks you a yes/no question, it doesn’t mean they want to hear only "yes" or "no." This is clearly not enough. Even a question like, “Would you like some water?” requires a "thank you" afterwards. So, pay attention to these questions and always try to explain your answer, whether it's positive or negative.
📢 Mentioning uninvolved third parties
This is something not so common for people in the interview setting, but still worth mentioning. A third party may be your friends, family members, employees of the company you are being interviewed for, or even details about the interviewer's personal life.
Some people try to create a positive impression or get to know the interviewer better, although it is not really welcomed in the interview, especially in the first round. To avoid overstepping personal boundaries and staying on topic, try to keep the conversation mostly professional.
🤥 Lying
This is one of the most crucial mistakes that many people, somehow, neglect to avoid. However, this won’t work in the long run and can cost a job in the future. When you exaggerate your skills and knowledge, keep in mind that you will have to prove it in the near future. Increasing your work experience periods to conceal employment gaps can also have a negative outcome if an interviewer decides to conduct a reference check.
If you are looking for a good place to work, where you’ll be happy to stay for a long time, avoid lying to secure a position.
🤐 Not asking questions
Another common mistake is considering an interview one-sided. You have the right to ask questions too! So, don’t neglect this important part of the interview.
It may be hard to think of questions on the spot, so it’s better to prepare them in advance. Check the job description and company website, search for common questions to ask the interviewer on the internet, and think about the details that are most important to you in a future workplace.
🤑 Not asking about salary
It has become pretty common for employers to leave the salary field in the job opening blank. So, you should question yourself about the amount of the salary in the first place. Then, you should question the interviewer.
Interview rounds often range from two to five, on average. So, imagine going through four rounds of interviews over weeks, only to receive an offer with a salary far lower than you expected. Was this time worth it? Of course not. So, it’s better to raise this question as soon as possible.
👋 Ignoring follow-up questions
Once the interview is coming to an end and both sides have asked their questions, there should also be follow-up questions. These questions usually include: contact information, the number of interview rounds, the timeline for the decision, and so on.
A good interviewer should cover these topics without you needing to ask them because this information is essential. However, not every interviewer follows all the protocols. Many of them also like ghosting candidates. So, to ensure you have all the information you need, prepare follow-up questions as well.
No matter how much experience you have with interviews, there is always much to consider. Many people make the same mistakes for years, making their job search process more difficult. By keeping in mind and avoiding the mistakes from this article, you’ll be able to make the most of every interview and increase the possibility of landing a job you want. The rest is up to you!