Top Five Blunders When Interviewing

After putting plenty of time and effort into writing your resume and cover letter, picking out the perfect outfit, and practicing common interview questions, your chances of landing the job can go downhill quickly as a result of common interview mistakes. Avoid these top five blunders when interviewing to increase your chances of impressing the potential employer.

1. Dressing Inappropriately

What you wear has a big impact on the first impression you make, so avoid the common interview mistake of wearing inappropriate clothing. Instead, strive for a polished look. You can never go wrong with a professional suit. Men should be clean-shaven, and a woman’s makeup should be subtle and natural. Avoid wearing too much cologne or perfume, and steer clear of any unnecessary accessories, such as sunglasses or Bluetooth earpieces.

2. Being Too Early or Too Late

Showing up late is a common interview mistake that makes a potential employer question your punctuality and dependability. Give yourself plenty of time to travel to the interview, and plan for traffic. Arriving too early can make a potential employer feel rushed, so wait outside if you have plenty of time to spare. Showing up 10 to 15 minutes early is best.

3. Being Unprepared

Show the hiring manager that you are reliable by being well-prepared for your interview. Bring extra copies of your resume and business cards if you have them. Spend time before the interview anticipating possible questions and preparing your answers. Do some research on the company, and ask thoughtful questions that are relevant and focused on the position.

4. Complaining

Bad-mouthing a previous boss or complaining are two common interview mistakes that can immediately turn off a hiring manager. Do not complain about a previous position, former employer or co-workers. Rather than invoking sympathy, this makes you seem negative, hard to get along with and catty. Even if asked why you are seeking a new position, put a positive spin on your response. Additionally, be polite to everyone you encounter at the interview, and do not grumble if the interview does not start right on time.

5. Providing Poor Responses

Regardless of how well you conduct yourself at an interview, providing poor answers to questions can be a common interview mistake that costs you the job. Rather than getting flustered or stammering, take a few seconds to think about what you want to say before you respond. Practice common questions before the interview, or hold a mock interview with friends until you feel comfortable and confident.

Dressing inappropriately, not showing up on time, being unprepared, complaining and providing poor responses to questions are common interview mistakes that often cause candidates to be rejected. Avoid these five common blunders when interviewing to make a positive first impression on the hiring manager and prove that you are the best candidate for the job.

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