5 Common Job Interview Mistakes

June 19, 2013

The job hunt often involves hundreds of job applications, dozens of interviews and not very many call backs. If you don’t end up getting the job, something no doubt took place during the job interview that left interviewers unimpressed; however, they will never actually tell you that you were unprepared. Here are five common job interview mistakes that will help you have a successful interview the next time around, courtesy of Mashable.

Being Unprepared: A job interview is pretty useless if you haven’t done your homework. Research the company, be familiar with industry information, and know everything there is to know about the organization. Prove you did the work by adding in little tidbits you’ve learned during the interview.
Don’t Use Generic Responses: Give unique and personalized responses to the interviewer’s questions. Don’t tell him or her that your best quality is punctuality or that you have good work ethic, because everyone does. If you want to stand out as a job candidate, talk about your accomplishments and successes, and why those traits make you perfect for the job.
Your Online Presence is Unflattering: Employers will run a search for your name and will look for you on social networks. Clean up your profiles before heading into an interview by getting rid of pictures from your partying days (even if they are from last weekend), and make sure your online presence reflects your professionalism. Prove you are an industry leader by posting about news and updates from your professional life.
You Didn’t Dress the Part: First impressions do matter, so your appearance should reflect who you are on a professional level. Make sure your hair isn’t messy and your clothes are clean and pressed. If you’re not sure what to wear, overdress with a suit, tie and collared shirt. Make yourself really stand out by adding bits of your personality into your outfit.
You’re Boring: The very last thing you want to do is bore your interviewer. These interviewers meet dozens of job applicants and if they seem bored during your meeting, that’s probably because you haven’t said anything that makes you stand out from the crowd. Be a bit creative in your interview — tell a funny (but appropriate) story, or think outside of the box when designing your resume.

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