Don’t Make These 4 Mistakes In Your Next Job Interview

Don’t Make These 4 Mistakes In Your Next Job Interview

By Kibet Tobias
You have been jobless for a while now. You already applied for many jobs and finally, you got an interview invitation. Cheers! You are almost at the finish line to getting a job.
I have been in similar situation and I can confirm that being called for an interview comes with the most amazing and exciting feeling.
Unfortunately, most job seekers make grave mistakes during the day of the interview. They neglect very simple instructions that end up hurting their chances of getting the job even after submitting good CV’s and having good work experience.
Sadly, it’s easy to make such mistakes without even realizing it though many of them are more common than you might think.
According to Muthoni Ndegwa, a recruiting manager at Corporate Staffing Services, here are the key areas people overlook that can cost them jobs:
1. Not researching on the Company
In any job interview expect the “What do you know about us?” interview question. Let it not surprise you on the day of the interview.
Research everything about the company that you are interviewing with. What services does the company offer? What’s the name of the CEO? When was the Company founded and what’s their vision?
For example, if you are attending an interview at KCB Bank, know their services beforehand like the Mobile banking, KCB Foundation or Internet Banking. Don’t neglect their brand colors, the CEO and former CEO etc.
As a job seeker, your aim is to impress the employer by showing him/her that you are knowledgeable about the company. It shows interest and desires to work for them.
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2. Arriving late to an interview
One of the gravest interview mistakes you can make is by arriving late to an interview. It creates a very bad first impression about you. The first impression is key in every sector.
Career experts recommend at least ten minutes before the interview schedule. This will allow you to take some time to compose yourself, use the restroom and prepare for the impending interview.
However, don’t be tempted to arrive very early. You will inconvenience your interviewer.
3. Not following instructions in the Email
In most cases, employers indicate the requirements in an invitation Email. This may include the following:

  • Carry copies of your CV and original documents
  • Carry your pay slips

Sometimes job seekers fail to carry the documents asked on the day of the interview. This will show the potential employer that you are not interested in the job and you are not keen on simple instructions.
Next time, pay close attention to the invitation email and present yourself on the day with all the requirements.
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4. Talking about salaries
If you are attending the first interview, it is not the right time to bring up the salary discussion. Wait until the interviewer brings it up.
According to Ms. Esther Kamau, a career coach at a leading recruitment firm talking about salary in early interview stages may give the impression that you’re only interested in the job for the money.
“So save this topic until you’ve been offered the job,” Ms. Kamau advises.
Having said that, remember also to carry out your salary research beforehand so that you can state your fair salary expectations within the range incase interviewer asks.
5. Not going through your CV
Just imagine a situation where the interviewer asks you about your role in the previous company and you can’t answer it! Honestly, it is embarrassing.
Never walk into an interview room without mastering the content on your CV. Maybe your CV was written by a CV Writing expert, it will be good for you to understand and internalize every detail in it.
By doing this, you can be able to answer any questions during the interview.
In the end…
We all make mistakes, but if you will avoid the above interview mistakes in your job search, the better. In your next job interview, ensure you are well-informed and prepared for your interview. All the best!
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