Are you getting ready for a job interview?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If so, you should be aware of some common mistakes candidates often make, either before, during, or after the interview process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These are the ones to watch, and how to avoid them like a pro:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Every good job interview starts and ends with a handshake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In many cases, the interviewer will extend a hand first. If they don’t, it’s important that you<\/em> take the initiative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The handshake should be firm. Not so strong that it comes off aggressive or overly confident. On the other hand (see what I did there?), a weak handshake can make you seem timid or uncertain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The handshake should last for about two seconds, and be accompanied by eye contact and a smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Flirting in a job interview is not unheard of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In fact, more often than not, flirting is instigated by the interviewer<\/em><\/a> rather than the interviewee<\/em>, which raises a whole new set of questions to deal with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a candidate, though, it’s unwise to engage in flirtatious behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While there will always be exceptions where flirting works in your favor (and even lands you the job), the majority of interviewers will see this as disingenuine and unprofessional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The odds don’t favor you, so it’s best to play it safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Being charming<\/a>, on the other hand, is a far more reliable approach, and has a distinctly different feel to being a flirt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Phones have a wide range of uses these days, but very few of those are justified in a job interview environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In most cases, pulling out your phone (or it ringing) during an interview will suggest a multitude of things to the person interviewing you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n None of these is a good look for you as a candidate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your phone should be switched off or on silent mode prior to a job interview, and only brought out if specifically requested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You never really know what questions to expect in a job interview, but there are a handful of questions that tend to appear more often than not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of those questions is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n “What do you know about our company?<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n If you haven’t taken the time to research the company, it won’t take very long for the interviewer to work that out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You either know the facts, or you don’t. There’s no talking your way around it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That’s why you should always spend at least 10 minutes researching the company prior to the interview, including things like store locations, annual turnover, mission statement, company values, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can find most of this stuff on their website or their Wikipedia page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some interviewers will tempt you into badmouthing your past employers or even colleagues, just to gauge the quality of your work-based relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This can come in the form of questions like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n These questions are tricky because they encourage a positive response while also leaving the door open for negative remarks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Those who take the opportunity to badmouth previous employers or colleagues demonstrate their inability to maintain good relationships with the people around them, and that’s a major red flag for any employer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes, life just gets in the way. Things happen, and before you know it, you’ve been unemployed for months or even years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Resumes leave clues, and any competent employer will see that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But there’s nothing inherently wrong with having gaps on your resume. Interviewers are real people with real people’s problems, and most understand that hard times can fall on anyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Leaving those gaps unexplained<\/strong>, however, puts you at a major disadvantage when you’re eventually asked about them. And you will<\/em> be asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The best thing you can do is tackle those gaps head-on, be it either directly on your resume or in the interview itself (where the opportunity presents itself, and, most importantly, before they ask).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Do so by taking the time to explain what you were doing during that time, why you were unable to secure employment, and what you did to overcome those challenges that ultimately put you in the chair today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nervousness and anxiety<\/a> can manifest themselves in different ways during the interview process, many of which are forgivable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not paying attention isn’t one of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Things like constant fidgeting, not making eye contact, not listening to questions, and a general lack of responsiveness are all going to reflect badly on you as a candidate and prospective employee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’re aware of these nervous characteristics in your own demeanor, it’s important to iron these out in a private setting before going into an interview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are also plenty of techniques you can employ to calm your pre-interview nerves<\/a>, so don’t hesitate to get creative if this is a recurring problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n2. Attempting To Flirt<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
3. Using Your Phone Mid-Interview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
4. Not Learning About The Company<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
5. Disrespecting Previous Employers Or Colleagues<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
6. Leaving Unexplained Gaps On Your Resume<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
7. Not Paying Attention To The Interviewer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
8. Not Dressing Appropriately<\/h2>\n\n\n\n