Avoiding Common Interview Mistakes

Cover letters and resumes are great, but they don’t get you a job. Interviews are what make or break a career decision. And while the process can be long and arduous, you can sometimes one-up the competition not by know what to do, but rather what not to do.

1. Dressing too casual. First impressions are key. Put the jeans, flip flops and tight cleavage-bearing tops away. If you don’t know the culture of the organization you’re interviewing with always opt to overdress. You can’t go wrong with a simple suit and collard shirt. Just use your judgment.

2. Being unprepared. Repeat this mantra — research, research, research. You should never go into an interview without doing your homework on the company. Knowing their stats, mission and even exactly what they do (yes, really) is half the battle. You’ll be able to better frame your responses and tailor your interview to their specific needs. Plus it’ll show how passionate you are about their organization, which every employer loves.

3. Acting cocky. If you landed the interview you have every right to be confident in your skills and abilities, but that should be counteracted with a big does of humility. You don’t want to come across as cocky or egotistical by talking too much or bragging. When asked what your biggest weakness is you have to actually give one — it’s not a sign of your limitations, rather it shows that you can recognize your flaws and have the desire to improve upon them. That’s life, kid.

4. Failing to follow-up. Just because you shake hands and thank the employer at the conclusion of the interview doesn’t mean the process is over. Send a thank you note immediately to express your gratitude for their time and consideration. And unless they give you a specific time frame of when they’ll contact you, don’t be afraid to call the HR department up and ask for an update. It’s not annoying to be concerned about your future. 

Pair these tips with your jaw-dropping talent and a winning smile and you’ll be sure to ace any interview and land that dream job.*

*Results not typical.

-Marilyn