Interview No-No’s
When preparing for an interview, it’s every candidates advantage to know how to behave and how not to!
According to a recent study conducted with hiring managers, here are some of the most common mistakes made in the interview process:
Answering a cellphone or texting during the interview (71%)
Appearing disinterested (69%)
Appearing arrogant (66%)
Speaking negatively about a current or previous employer (63%)
Chewing gum (59%)
Not providing specific answer (35%)
Not asking good questions/not asking questions at all (32%)
So how can you prevent your nerves from getting the best of you in your interview? Here are some tips that will help you prepare for the big day.
Interview “Do’s!”
Practice ahead of time
A great way to build confidence and ensure that your answers to interview questions are thought out and articulate is to conduct a mock interview before the real thing.
“The best way to prepare is to create and even research a series of interview questions, write down your answers [and then] practice them with a friend, colleague or even in front of the mirror,” says Anastasia Valentine, a career and business coach from Ottawa.
Julia Meir of staffing firm Robert Half Canada agrees: “In all likelihood, the hiring manager will ask you a host of standard questions, such as: ‘Why do you want to work for this firm?’ and ‘What makes you right for this role?’ Practice your responses to these queries with a friend so you are ready when the interviewer asks them.”
Research the Company
As mentioned above, most interviews include some form of the question “Why do you want to work here?” which is difficult to answer if you don’t know much about the company. The best answers to this question draw a specific connection between your work experience and the needs of the firm.
“Researching the company before the interview is a crucial step. The more you can find out about the open position and the firm’s culture, the better equipped you’ll be to highlight your most relevant skills and attributes,” Meir says.
Put your Best Foot Forward
If you’re confident in the way you’re presenting yourself, you’ll feel more relaxed going into the interview. Ask your human resources contact about the company’s dress code so you have an idea of what to wear and be sure to try on your outfit for a proper fit and cleanliness check well in advance.
Still unsure about how to dress? When in doubt, it’s better to err on the side of formality. “Even if you’re interviewing with a company that has a casual dress code, it’s better to be over-dressed than under-dressed,” Meir advises.
Lastly…
Don’t overlook the details
It can be easy to overlook the small things when you’re getting ready for an interview, since you’ll likely be focused on the bigger things like getting there on time and how you’ll answer the questions. But be sure to pay attention to the little things too, like bringing extra copies of your résumé, turning off your cell phone (or leaving it in the car), spitting out your gum before you walk through the office door, etc. These little things make a big difference in the eyes of an interviewer.