Don't do these things at your next interview.
I was talking to a friend last week and he was telling me about how hard his job search had been. He had been to so many interviews and hadn't gotten a job that he had begun to get jaded about interviews. Even though he had another interview scheduled that week, he wasn't very excited about it.
I started to think about how easy it is to lose motivation and enthusiasm, especially when you've been stressed out about money and the problems of unemployment for a while. While it's tempting to get angry and want to ask employers upfront if they are planning on just wasting your time, it doesn't project a "hire me" attitude. I know that you've been worn down and rejected, but don't let the next hiring manager see that.
You see, employers are looking for enthusiastic employees with positive attitudes, and with such stiff competition, you can't afford to be anything but.
In order to project a more positive and enthusiastic image, here are 3 things not to do in an interview:
- Don't be sarcastic - When you're nervous, it's tempting to try to use humor to lighten things up. Just be careful not to be too dry or sarcastic. Not everyone understands that sort of joke and it has a risk of not translating well. You can end up coming off as rude or just plain mean. Instead, be more conservative and more professional. You can be friendly, but this isn't the time to try to impress the interviewer with your wit.
- Don't be too chatty - Even if the interviewer is really friendly and makes you feel at ease, they don't want to be your friend. Be polite and friendly with your responses, but don't be tempting to start chatting. Remember that you want to project the image of professionalism and not be seen as someone who would have trouble staying on task. You don't have to share your life story. If the conversation strays and you feel tempted to start chatting, refocus on why you're there. Don't fall into the trap of venting about all of the other interviews you've been on. Saying something negative about a former employer, co-worker or company is just bad form, no matter how justified you feel or how relevant you may think it is.
- Don't forget to ask questions - Asking questions about the job opening and asking the interviewer what the next steps are show that you are interested in getting the job. When you don't have any questions, the interviewer will most likely assume that you aren't enthusiastic and choose someone who really wants the job.
Do you think that you've become jaded about your job search? What do you do to keep a positive attitude? Please share your thoughts and tips in the comments.
By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for SalesHeadsBlog and Nexxt. Along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.
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