#JobInterview : 3 Sabotaging Mistakes You’re Probably Making In Your Job Interviews

Let’s be real... With all the resume updates, networking events and hours you could spend submitting job applications, the job hunt can be brutal.  

By the time you finally get asked to come in for an interview, you’re not only tired, but also your nerves have taken hold of you, and you’re sweating through your blazer in the lobby.

As a career coach, many clients have come to me for help after doing all the leg work to land interviews, only to walk into the room and unknowingly drop the ball.

Here’s the thing... Acing an interview largely comes down to having emotional intelligence, as well as recognizing how you may be deterring the interviewer from hiring you.

Through the years I’ve spent coaching clients from all walks of the workforce, I have found these three common interview mistakes to be the reason for not getting hired.

1. Telling them everything.

Many interviews start off with the really open-ended question, “tell me about yourself”.  For most people, this leads down a rabbit hole of accidentally spewing your entire life history to a complete stranger or, even worse, simply regurgitating everything they could read at a glance of your resume. Or, they ask you about a questionable career shift or a gap in your resume, which prompts you to reveal your personal struggles or a story about the boss who fired you.

No matter how much of a connection you have with your interviewer, remember that oversharing that early will come across as unprofessional— and untrustworthy… even if the conversation is enjoyable in the moment.

It’s not about lying, but it is about learning where you can walk the line of perhaps addressing a concern about your application versus shining a giant spotlight directly onto your weakness. The best way to do this is to intentionally prepare your interview answers in advance to questions that you foresee in an interview. Practice breeds certainty and certainty breeds confidence, so be sure to practice and rehearse your answers. This means looking in the mirror, and practicing, or asking someone to sit down and host a mock interview with you as practice.

You’ve heard the saying, “practice makes perfect.”Well, there’s a reason for that. Your brain has a substance called myelin that coats axons, the nerve fibers that cause motion in your body. When you repeat a motion, you are building up this myelin in your brain. As a result, your brain functions faster with improved recall, communication, and responses. All to aid you in the interview process and keep you away from oversharing.

We live in a world where musicians have dress rehearsals, and actors shoot the same scene multiple times. Who are you to think that you shouldn’t also be practicing for your interview performances?

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2. Being cold or negative.

An interview is a high-stakes experience that leads to being nervous and anxious. What most people don’t realize, is that anxiety can often be expressed as anger or negativity.

A Negative Nelly is the last person a company wants to hire.

Sometimes, the attempt to be professional appears cold, and it makes sense that mastering this state of being is challenging. After all, you may be serious about the position for which you’re interviewing!  Don’t let your focus come across as cold. Remember to tune into your inner human that knows how to bond and connect with another. After all, the interview got you in the room, your personality, and being someone the interviewer sees themself happily connecting with each day is what the interview conversation really become about.

Always remember, what you say about others says a lot about you. It might be tempting to talk smack about an old boss or employer when answering an interview question, but it will only make you look bad. Studies have revealed that negative perceptions of others are linked to higher levels of narcissism and antisocial behavior, all of which the interviewer may consciously or subconsciously pick up on.

People can intuitively tune into each other’s emotions, so if you are speaking poorly about someone else (or yourself!), the person interviewing you is going to walk away feeling negative themselves. If something negative really can’t be avoided, angel it from a learning perspective, sharing what you learned from the seemingly negative experience, and transition the conversation away from the topic.

In order to make sure your interviewer walks away with warm fuzzies, try sharing something personal about why the job aligns with your purpose or mission in the world, such as “The reason this opportunity strikes a personal chord with me is…” and then share whatever it is that brings passion into your work.

Always remember to look them in the eye, and yes, amongst all the stress, don’t forget to smile and have a good time.

3. Being unaware of the company culture.

If you are on a serious job hunt it can begin to feel like you are spamming out applications, turning into a zombie in search of the right fit.  If you aren’t careful, you might walk into an interview unprepared to speak to the specific role and company.

Take the time to really do your research before you walk into the lobby for an interview. This includes not only the job description and company products or services but also getting a strong grasp on their culture.

We know the first impression matters, and part of that is what you wear.  Are you interviewing at a large formal corporation are is it a trendy startup?  It is never a good idea to show up casual to an interview, but it is in your best interest to know beforehand what the workplace environment is like.

Hop online and search through the companies’ social media for any workplace images.  If you do a little research I am sure you can find pictures of employees at work events or walk through campus. This not only tells you what to wear, but also whether the culture aligns with what you are looking for.

During this search begin to compile a list of questions specific to the role and company.  There is nothing more off-putting for an interviewer than a candidate who has no questions.  When the hiring managers ask, “Do you have any questions for me?” it might be difficult at the moment to come up with something.  Don’t become a deer in headlights with this question, instead have a list prepared. Having a few thoughtful questions will speak volumes about your interest in the role.

Always remember that as the person being interviewed, you are not calling the shots, they are.  They brought you in to talk, so let them lead. Save your inquiries for the end, when they open the floor for you to ask them questions.

The first step to anything is awareness.  Begin to pay more attention to what and how you handle interviews or practice interviews and take this learning into your next interview.  Because being on the job hunt is not something you want to be doing forever.

Forbes.com | December 27, 2019 | Ashley Stahl