“Common mistake freshers/ interviewee do, while appearing for an interview.”

“Common mistake freshers/ interviewee do, while appearing for an interview.”

1. Being unprepared: Failing to do your homework.
In today’s information age, there is absolutely no excuse for knowing nothing about the company you are applying to work for. When you are going for an interview your first work is to know about that company background, history of company, founder, product profile, career options etc. Emphasize on their recent achievements, annual turnover etc. Research the interviewers also.
i) Analyze the job description and your match with it.
ii) Know your answers to the standard job interview questions.

2. Know and implement the logistics for getting to the interview on time:
If possible, do a test run at the approximate time you are supposed to be there, and plan your departure and arrival for the interview accordingly, getting comfortable with the drive or ride, tolls or fees, parking options, etc.

3. Be concise: Demonstrates your ability to be concise, creative and compelling

1. Tell us something about yourself.
2. What are your strengths?
3. What are your weaknesses?

The interviewer cares less about your answer to this question and more about the confidence, enthusiasm and passion with which you answer it. The biggest mistake you could make is pausing, stalling or fumbling at the onset of your answer, thus demonstrating a lack of self-awareness and self-esteem.
Emphasize on your strengths rather than weaknesses. When you tell about a weakness make it as a positive thing so that the interviewer may not see it as a negative trait.

4. Sharing too much information: 
Sometimes, people have a whole-truth-and-nothing-but-the-truth mindset in a job interview, so they spill their guts in answer to every question. Not smart or useful!

5. Making up answers:
Inflating your expertise is a quick way to alienate your interviewer. If you don’t know the answer to a question, it’s better to be up front about it. Pretending to know something when you don’t can be fallacious.

6.  Padding the Resume:
Don’t put things on your CV that you can’t live up to, so you need to be able to elaborate on every line.
It’s understandable that some of your older experiences may be hard to recall. Review the facts before your interview. It can be helpful to keep a copy of your resume for yourself to refer to during your interview.

7. Negative body language: A bad handshake, sloppily dressed, forgetting your manners:
If you never smile, have a limp handshake, and don’t make eye contact with the people you meet at the employer’s location, and especially with the interviewer, you’ll come across as too shy or too strange or simply not interested. Instead show your interest and enthusiasm.

Don’t try to be unnecessarily entertaining or amusing. And, don’t flirt with anyone, including the receptionist or the security guard. Arguing with the interviewer is not advisable at all. There is a very good reason the interviewer is on the other side of the table. He/she is more knowledgeable and experienced than you, so do not argue with the interviewer under any circumstances.
Don’t chew gum or bring food or drink into the interview. Mind your manners, and be polite to everyone you meet there.

Before you get to your interview, silence your phone. Texting during your interview is not only rude and disruptive, but it’s a pretty clear message to your potential employer that getting the job is not your top priority.

Stick to well ironed formal dress code and formal shoes. When you interview a job, it’s imperative to look professional and polished.

8. Using ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers …unless the interviewer requires a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ as an answer:
The most common is when candidates ramble on forever and don’t answer properly. The interviewer really doesn’t need to know your whole life story. Most impressive is the candidate that expounds on the answer, showing how he understands.

Don’t let yourself zone out during an interview. Make sure you are well-rested, alert and prepared for your interview. Getting distracted and missing a question looks bad on your part. If you zone out, your potential employer will wonder how you will be able to stay focused during a day on the job, if you can’t even focus during one interview.

9. Showing off:
The employers are rarely impressed by outrageous claims or displays of ego. Make sure all your bragging is justified. No reason to be arrogant.

10.  Moaning and complaining about your current employer:
No employer wants to feel that you are joining them because it’s better than where you are. Instead, show that you are excited by the opportunities the new organisation represents. It’s sometimes a smaller world than you think and you don’t know who your interviewer might know, including your current / previous boss. You also don’t want the interviewer to think that you might speak that way about his or her company when you leave them.

11.  Asking no questions: To an employer, no questions = no interest
A job interview not only enables the potential employer to assess your skills and suitability but it also enables the interviewee to assess if this company is in fact a good employer, compatible with your needs.
During the first interview, asking questions only about raises, promotions, vacation, and benefits are not usually well-received. Those questions apparently indicate that you are just interested in specific personal benefits rather than the job. Instead ask the questions that occurred to you as you were doing your pre-interview research, as you talked with the people during the interview, or as you observed people in the location.
Ask for details about the job — what an average day is like, if the job is new or being filled because the previous employee was promoted, etc.

12.  What are your hobbies?
Be sure that you are well prepared to answer this. Because depending on your answer, the next question follows. For example if you say reading they may ask you what do you read? Be prepared with a particular author and book.

13.  Not collecting contact information or asking the next-steps questions:
Many job seekers leave the interviews with no idea of what will happen next in this employer’s hiring process. They also often don’t know who is the best person to contact as well as when and how to contact that person.

14.  Are you not overqualified for this position?
Well, I appreciate your perception about me. I think that I’m not yet overqualified for this position because my educational qualification and achievements is just a proof that I’m good learner, it is also a proof that I can still take up challenges and compete with others.

Sharmistha Ghosh

Mentor | Employability Skills Trainer