6 Interview Mistakes You Don’t Realize You’re Making
You may already know the MOST common interview mistakes. At the top of the list we’ve got: showing up late, being unprepared, and blatantly avoiding questions that you don’t have an answer for. But, after conducting my first few interviews, it was apparent that there were several lesser known mistakes that candidates rarely realize they’re making.
During the hiring process, these slip ups tend to be the things that I remembered most about a candidate. They blur the entire conversation and make it challenging to focus on the conversation at hand.
Interview Mistake #1: Not Understanding the Role or the Company
An interview is a perfect opportunity to learn more about the position you’re applying for and the company mission. But, it’s important that you do your background research and have a general idea of the daily tasks and values.
Job descriptions can feel cryptic when you’re going through a career change or transitioning to a new line of work. The Interview Prep Playbook will guide you through exactly how to research and prepare for any interview!
Interview Mistake #2: Being Clueless About Compensation
Do you know the salary for the role you’re applying for? If it’s not listed in the job description, have you done your research to determine your market rate?
It’s frustrating when employers are not transparent about salary in job postings. But, chatting about *money, money, money moneeeyyyy* will come up at some point during the hiring process. Be ready for it!
You will want to have researched your market value (specific to location) and the salary range of similar positions, plus know how to answer (and ask!) questions about compensation. Conversations around money can be extremely nerve-wracking, which is why it’s crucial that you prepare for this topic!
Interview Mistake #3: Being Unaware of Your Body Language
It’s not only about what you say, it’s also about what you don’t say. If you are fidgeting, tapping a pen, or bouncing your knee during the entire conversation, the interview panel may conclude that you’re unprepared and nervous.
Additionally, fidgeting is extremely distracting! As the interviewers deliberate, you want them to remember your awesome answers and stunning personality, not that you were tapping your fingers on the desk for 45 minutes.
Interview Mistake #4: Forgetting that an Interview is a Conversation
When chatting with my clients about interview nerves, my top reminder is “This is just a conversation.” It may be a high stakes conversation - sure - but a conversation regardless.
This reminder will allow you to be yourself, let your personality shine, and give the interviewers a taste of what it may be like to work with you. Further, a conversation gives you the permission to ask follow up questions and discuss relevant topics that are work adjacent.
Interview Mistake #5: Rambling
In most cases, you don’t know you are rambling until it’s too late. Ensure that you are preparing your answers to the most popular questions and highlight relevant skills throughout the conversation. The Interview Prep Playbook will guide you through specific preparation activities, plus give you examples and outlines for how to answer the toughest questions!
Interview Mistake #6: Not Asking Questions at the End of the Interview
“So, do you have any questions for us?” The answer is always, “YES!” Oftentimes, many of the questions that you’ve prepared will be answered during the conversation, which is why you want to prepare a long list of questions beforehand.
Follow up questions should do two things:
WOW the interviewers. You want them to think, “Damn, that was a good question!”
Help you determine if this is the right job for you. An interview is a two-way street and it’s crucial that you get answers to topics that you’re truly curious about.
This portion of the interview can also give you the opportunity to further elaborate on why you’re a great candidate for the job or suss out red flags.
Fortunately, the Interview Prep Playbook will help you combat each of these mistakes, plus so much more. From preparation to money conversations to preparing for the toughest interview questions - it’s your one-stop-shop for nailing the interview!
You’ve done so much work to get into the interview room, the only logical next step is to land the job offer!
