CAREER
Beware of the Top 5 Interview Mistakes
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We’ve all heard stories of job candidates
who looked great on paper but who were absolute disasters in person.
With fewer interview opportunities available in our competitive
job market, it’s essential to make the best possible first impression.
Learn from the mistakes of others and avoid these top five worst
interview blunders:
1. Not preparing for the tough interview questions. Like
every job seeker, you probably have your own set of tough interview
questions you hope will never be asked. The best strategy is to
prepare ahead of time with answers to ALL of these questions. A
career coach can be a great resource for helping you work out suitable
answers with a positive spin on negative or challenging career situations.
2. Failure to match communication styles. Making a great
first impression is easier to do when you communicate effectively
with your interviewer. The best way to do this is by mirroring his
or her communication style. Allowing your interviewer to set the
tone of the conversation will put him or her at ease and makes the
conversation flow more naturally.
For instance:
* If the interviewer seems all business, don’t attempt to loosen
him or her up with a joke or story. Be succinct
and businesslike.
* If the interviewer is personable, try discussing his or her
interests. Often personal items on display in the
office can be a clue.
* If asked a direct question, answer directly. Then follow up
by asking if more information is needed.
3. Talking too much.
In my recruiting days, I abhorred over-talkative candidates, and
so did most of my client employers who interviewed these candidates.
Over-talking takes several forms:
* Taking too long to answer direct questions. The impression:
This candidate just can’t get to the point.
* Nervous talkers. The impression: This candidate is covering
up something or is outright lying.
To avoid either of these forms of over-talking, practice
answering questions in a direct manner. Using role-playing
in preparing for your interview will help you avoid excessive, nervous
talking.
4. Saying negative things about your current or past employers
or managers.
Even if your last boss was Attila the Hun, avoid stating your
ill feelings about the person or work situation. No matter how reasonable
your complaints, your negative comments will be viewed as disrespect
towards your boss. When faced with the challenge of talking about
former employers, make sure you are prepared with a positive spin
on your experiences.
5. Giving away too much salary and earnings information.
Candidates often weaken their future earning potential by speaking
too freely about their current income. No matter the official salary
range of the position you are interviewing for, your current earnings
have an enormous effect on the size of the offer. Investing in a
career coach to help you answer salary questions can add thousands
of dollars to your new job offer.
You already know that it takes a strong resume that sets you apart
as a candidate of choice to be invited for an interview. The next
step is to hone your interviewing skills to actually win job offers.
Polishing your interviewing skills can mean the difference between
getting the job and being a runner-up.
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Deborah Walker, CCMC
Resume Writer ~ Career Coach
To see resume samples and read more job-search tips visit www.AlphaAdvantage.com
Email: Deb@AlphaAdvantage.com
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