Find Out!! Top 9 Job Interview Mistakes We All Make

Find Out!! Top 9 Job Interview Mistakes We All Make

By Lilian Wamaitha

We have all been to an interview once or a couple of times. We all have our moments but what stands out is that there are common interview mistakes that we have committed.

Whether it’s out of desperation to get the job or just the obsession of standing out, you must admit that you have been a victim of one or a few of the following interview mistakes.

Common job interview mistakes we make

What shouldn’t you do at an interview?

Unfortunately, it is easy to make some of these mistakes in an interview without even realizing it. Let’s look at 9 grave interview mistakes we have been making and which we shouldn’t carry on this year.

1. Not researching the company

Most of us think that a job interview is all about looking at the job, applying for it and getting called in for the interview. Researching the company is just as important as preparing responses to a bunch of common interview questions.

Go online, dig a little bit deeper about the company you are looking to work for. What have they achieved? What challenges have they faced?

Read Also >>> 5 Tips On How To Prepare For An Interview

2. Running late to an interview

Did you know that you can make a bad first impression even before you arrive at the interview venue? One of the gravest interview mistakes you can make is by arriving late to an interview.

Make a point of arriving at least fifteen minutes before the interview schedule.

3. Another one of the interview mistakes is reciting scripts

It’s not wrong to prepare interview responses to common questions. However going overboard in the preparation is not cool.

Remember when you used to cram who invented what in a history class? Yeah, don’t do that. It’s not a script you are supposed to cram word by word. Leave that to the likes of Leonardo Dicaprio.

Instead of memorizing answers to for example “Tell me about yourself” interview question, try to understand the concept and base your answer on that.

4. Asking the wrong questions or wait! None at all

You are there to be interviewed but take advantage of the time by asking relevant questions. You can ask questions revolving around the position. Not asking questions at all makes you seem rude and uninterested. Read here on Interview Questions You Should Ask In a Job Interview.

5. Talking about salaries

That first interview is never the right time to bring up the salary topic. Unless the interviewer brings it up, keep it to yourself.

You don’t want to be that job seeker who only seems interested in the salary and not the job.

6. Talking too much

Let’s be honest, nobody likes a person who goes on and on about something. The interviewer is not looking to learn your whole life story.

Keep those answers short and to the point- don’t rumble. Just answer the questions as simple as you can.

7. Showing off

You may have watched countless episode of the Apprentice but trust me employers are turned off by a constant display of ego. Talking about how you have done everything everyone has done will not give you the job.

Yes you have achieved a few milestones in your career. Why don’t you talk about it in a natural manner instead of showing it off?

8. Complaining

You may have been stuck in Mombasa Road traffic more than you anticipated and that’s why you are late. Complaining to the interviewer about how traffic nowadays is hell especially on that route is a turn.

You got in late. Apologize in a good ways and get straight to the business of the day. The interview!

9. Lying is one of the Interview mistakes we make

We have all lied at one point in an interview in an effort to look good compared to other candidates. You may have gotten away with it at one time but it’s never the best move.

Think about it, telling a lie expects you to remember the lie for next time. Why go through all that? Just tell the truth and hold on to your faith that the job will be yours.

We all make mistakes but the interview mistakes above can end up costing you the job. The secret to avoiding these deadly mistakes is by preparing in advance.

Recommended Article >>> Most Common Interview Questions and Answers For 2017 

Lilian is a Communications Officer at Career Point Kenya. Email: lilian@www.careerpointkenya.co.ke

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