It is an unfortunate truth that many interviewees aren't aware of what not to say during an interview. Being nervous is natural but sometimes we make comments we probably shouldn't have. Here's some of the most obvious mistakes & tips for better responses.
Key points to avoid during a job interview:
Negative comments about past employers: "My last boss was terrible," "I hated my previous job," "Management never did anything good for employees."
Expressing desperation: "I really need this job," "I'm desperate for a position" or "This is the 10th interview I've had and nobody's hiring me."
Talking about salary/wage prematurely: "What's the starting salary for this role?", "Do you allow overtime?" or "How soon could I ask for a raise?".
Saying, "I don't know": Saying this without attempting to rephrase the question or ask for clarification makes it seem that you don't know about the company, didn't pay attention to the job requisition or didn't prepare well for the interview. Research the company, the job role & it's qualifications. Using the Internet to research commonly asked questions for your job role will help you prepare great answers and boost your confidence.
Unprofessional language or slang: Using curse words or casual language. This is a no-brainer folks. Keep it respectful & professional.
Complaining about current job: "I'm unhappy with my current company". Be aware that some interviewers come across as very friendly, empathic & relatable. If they say "I'm genuinely interested in what your issues with them were, just be transparent, I understand.", REMAIN PROFESSIONAL! The interviewer is not your friend and what you say can determine if you are considered a liability and prevent you from getting that job.
Discussing personal issues: Talking about personal problems that could affect your work. Interviewers are looking for reliable, productive candidates, not problem employees. Relationship issues, childcare obstacles, financial hardships are not interview discussion topics. Discuss health or medical issues only if asked directly, only if it might require accommodations and don't overshare.
Overconfidence or arrogance: "I can do anything," "I'm your best candidate for this job", "You can't afford not to hire me, I'm great at what I do".
Asking about benefits too early: "What's your vacation policy?", "How quickly can PTO be accrued?" or "Do you have a cash out policy for sick pay/PTO?".
Not having any questions: Showing a lack of interest by not asking questions at the end of the interview.
Instead, focus on:
If you are asked why you left a job you were dissatisfied with keep your answers professional. "While I valued the experience and skills I gained at my previous role, I realized that to achieve my long-term career aspirations, I needed to seek new opportunities that offered more alignment with my professional development goals." 👍
Highlighting your relevant skills and experience. It's a good idea to express how your experience & skills relate to the job role as well as highlighting your accomplishments that contributed to your previous company's success.
Showing enthusiasm for the role and company. Sharing why you chose to apply to that job opening rather than others you considered is important. Research the company, know the specifics of the job role and the company culture. There are review websites you can use to investigate what current and former employees have to say about working with that company.
Asking thoughtful questions about the position and company culture. "What is your idea of a great team member?", "Does management encourage professional growth and are there training/ cross training opportunities available to meet career goals?", "Does the company encourage team activities or volunteering in the community as a team?".
Presenting a positive and professional attitude. You should definitely express how your experience and skills can contribute to the company's success; this is a key element to demonstrate your value as a potential employee and show that you've researched the company and understand its needs.
What are some interview mistakes you wish you hadn't made? What would you do differently if you could do it over? What are some great tips or insights you can share with group members? Comment below👇
#interviewmistakestoavoid #interviewtips #hiringadvice #interviewbasics
It is an unfortunate truth that many interviewees aren't aware of how some statements they make during an interview can ruin their chances of being hired regardless of their qualifications & skills. Here is a specific list of things a candidate should never say during an interview as well as examples of things you can say when responding to interview questions.
During a job interview, always maintain a positive and professional demeanor.
Key points to avoid: Negative comments about past employers: "My last boss was terrible," "I hated my previous job," or anything else that portrays a negative experience.
Expressing desperation: "I really need this job," "I'm desperate for work".
Unprepared answers: "I don't know," "I haven't thought about that" or "I just wanted to apply first but haven't had a chance to really learn about the company".
Talking about salary first: "How much does this position pay?", "When would my benefits start?"
Discussing personal issues: "I'm really stressed at my current job because...".
Overconfidence or arrogance: "I can do anything if I put my mind to it".
Complaining about your current role: "My current company is not supportive", "My current management doesn't do anything for employees".
Cursing or unprofessional language: Using slang or inappropriate vocabulary. (This is a no brainer folks).
Asking about benefits too early: "What's your vacation policy?", "How soon do benefits start?" or "How is PTO accrued?".
Not having any questions: Showing lack of interest by not asking questions at the end of the interview. Interviewers would expect you to have some questions about the job role.
Do this instead:
Focus on your positive experiences and accomplishments at previous jobs. Try to express how your accomplishments would relate to the role you've applied for.
Express enthusiasm for the role and company. Share what attracted you to the company & why you chose that job role over others you considered applying for.
Ask thoughtful questions about the position and company culture. "What is your idea of a great team member?". "Does management encourage learning about professional growth within the company? Do they provide training/ cross training for such opportunities?"
Be prepared to discuss your skills and how they align with the job requirements.
Express how your experience & skills can contribute to the company's culture & success. This is a key element to demonstrate your value as a potential employee and show that you've researched the company and understand its needs.
Maintain positive body language and professional demeanor.
Be aware that some interviewers may ask questions about your previous job that may seem friendly & interested but are being asked to elicit a perception of comraderie in order to see how you respond. An assurance of "I'm interested in how your experience affected your performance & encourage you to be transparent in your answers" doesn't mean you should spill your guts about how poorly you believe you were treated. Keep your answers positive. My go to response is "While I valued the experience and skills I gained at my previous role, I realized that to achieve my long-term career aspirations, I needed to seek new opportunities that offered more alignment with my professional development goals.
What are some mistakes you've made during an interview that you think may have affected your chance of being hired? What would you have done differently if you could do it over?
I’m talking about the bias around “job hoppers”. Somewhere along the way a stigma formed that “job hoppers” are BAD. They won’t be reliable, definitely not loyal, and they’ll jump at the next best opportunity. And while sometimes this may be true, let’s be positive and focus on when it’s not.
The way I see it is, the workforce of the past stayed in their jobs for years upon years. It was a different time, there was a different kind of respect & loyalty between employer & employee and there was nothing wrong with staying at the same company for 20+ years. In some situations, employees had no other choice but to stay.
But things are different now, today is definitely not like the days of the past. New industries are being created every day, and with that comes a multitude of new roles obviously which equates to more choice. Another factor is the exorbitantly high cost of attending higher learning institutions, resulting in a greater number of people who aren’t able to attend. Non-college job seekers may have started lower on the salary scale & feel pressure to catch up; plus, with a longer work history, they have more opportunities to try to find their true passion.
College or no, not everyone is lucky enough to find their “dream job” right away or even for years. But this shouldn’t always be viewed as a bad thing. Part of what makes our country so wonderful is that, as employees, we have a multitude of choices. As employers, we should not be judging any member of the workforce for taking advantage of that. Would I be more apt to question if a candidate is making a move every one to two months? Probably, but at least give them the opportunity to explain it. They may have truly had the misfortune of being oversold on an opportunity, they may have been subject to a layoff (we hear about them every day), or maybe they fell into an unfortunate event in their personal life that they had no control over.
So my ask here is simple.. Have some empathy. If an applicant meets the experience requirements laid out in your job description, give them the opportunity to tell their story and hear them out. Who knows, these could be your next best employees or (dare I say it?) ROCK STARS! And I’m very aware of the cost associated with employment, and - yes - you may be faced with replacing a few. But doesn’t that outweigh the cost of having NO ONE doing the work. They just need a chance to prove themselves, and didn’t we ask someone to take a chance on us at some point in our careers?