These Five Mistakes Could Cost You the Job

A job interview is often the determining factor for potential employers making hiring decisions. You may have a stellar resume and an engaging cover letter, but if you make one of these five interview mistakes, you might ruin your chance of getting a job offer.

1. Showing Up Late

Promptness is essential in the workplace, therefore, if you show up late to your job interview, you may as well write off this opportunity. Your job as a candidate is to make a positive impression and sell your skills, but your actions speak louder than words. Beyond preparing for interview questions and paying close attention to your wardrobe and hygiene, know the route, anticipate traffic and leave early to ensure you get to the job interview on time.

2. Trying to Be a Jack-of-all-trades

Know your strengths, but avoid trying to convince hiring managers that you are an expert in every aspect of the business. It is impossible to excel at every single position within the company. Sell your skills and experience, but also stick to your brand. Highlight your niche areas of the industry, and focus on soft skills, too, such as your willingness to learn. Potential employers do not expect candidates to exhibit expert status with every single piece of equipment, hardware or software. However, if you explain during the job interview that you are familiar with certain software and eager to learn, your enthusiasm may make more of an impression than a claim that you're an expert.

3. Overexplaining

Interviewers generally ask candidates about their weaknesses or any employment gaps listed on their resume during the job interview. Address the issues of concern, but avoid overexplaining, which is a prominent interview mistake. Instead, offer a quick answer to ease their concerns. For example, if you have been unemployed for awhile, note that you focused on improving you skills without detailing the difficulty of searching for a job.

4. Injecting Negativity

Keep your answers to interview questions positive and personable to impress the interviewer. Job candidates who focus on negative experiences versus positive lessons they learned on the job signal to the hiring manager that negativity is their prominent approach. Avoid speaking ill of former employers or co-workers, and focus on what you have learned from unfortunate experiences in the workplace.

5. Overpowering the Interviewer

Remember that your role during the job interview is to market your skills versus lead the meeting. Allow the interviewer to lead the session, and only ask questions toward the end of the interview once the hiring manager is finished asking you questions. Show that you are personable, but keep the conversation professional when communicating with hiring managers.

Minor mistakes can deter hiring managers from making a job offer. Make a positive impression by showing you are eager, yet professional during a job interview.

Photo Courtesy of Ambro at FreeDigitalPhotos.net