Interviews,
interviews and interviews…they are the launch of a new job or a career. But
most of the times, they are neither uncomplicated nor very pleasing. A job
interview is the perfect example when a person faces excitement and pressure at
the same time. This strange combination of sentiments can cloud our judgment
and tie our tongues.
Perfection
is not a man’s trait and many recruitment managers often overlook puny
interview mistakes. It is, however, important to be prepared to the greatest
extent. There are some slip-ups that you can’t afford and there are some
ridiculous mistakes that can cast a bad shadow over your abilities and future
career.
On the day
of your interview, remember to look good and confident and say all the right
things. The rest will be fine. Don’t fret and try to think a little before
uttering each word.
How to Avoid
a Disastrous Interview
·
Don’t be
late:
Make proper arrangements beforehand to ensure
that you reach the designated place on time. Getting up earlier than usual for
a single day won’t hurt! Don’t leave your dress un-ironed till the eleventh
hour; you never know about electricity!
If something unexpected happens and you can’t
avoid being late, whether it be a traffic jam or your alarm clock didn’t beat
on time, immediately call ahead and inform them that you will be late. Don’t
keep them waiting, they might adjust you at some other time or reschedule the
meeting for some other day.
·
Don’t forget
your CV and other important material:
Perfectly dressed to please and accompanied
with your work bag, you accidentally left the file containing your impressive
resumes, well-crafted work samples and portfolios in the kitchen. That is bad
but can be managed. You must have the CV and portfolios in your email. Try to
get them printed before hitting the office for interview.
·
Handling a
Wardrobe Malfunction:
Nearly everyone has faced some wardrobe
malfunctioning before important events and moments. Such circumstances are
sometimes beyond our control. One might get splashed by a passing by car on the
way to the interview. It is quite possible that your crisp shirt ends up
looking idiotic as you reach the office. The best thing to do in such
circumstances would be to continue with the interview and at the start of it,
explain what happened. Your interviewer would rather like you for your sound
experience than loathe to your mud speckled shirt.
·
Be Prepared
and Deliberate:
Do necessary research about the company and
the people you are about to encounter. Any misinformation regarding them might
suggest careless attitude on your part. You just can’t forget the interviewer’s
name but if it skips your mind out of sheer nervousness, try to be smart and
look at the nameplate on the desk for a clue or search for certificates or
credits that might be adorning the walls. In this way you might get through the
situation.
·
If you are a
Young Professional…
If you are a fresh graduate, you are not a
seasoned professional with decades of experience on the resume and employers
are well aware of this fact. They know that your lack of experience will be
compensated by the knowledge you have about the current trends and technology.
Be confident about who you are. During the interview, you should emphasize on
the fact that how enthusiastic you are about learning from the industry leaders
on board.
·
Things Not
to Say During an Interview:
When Asked to Introduce Yourself…
This is one of the trickiest yet interesting
questions asked during the interview.
Upon this question, you do not need to
ruminate on your life. The interviewer is least interested in your life’s
intricate particulars. Don’t blurt out the following details.
o A brief synopsis about your childhood.
o How badly you want this job.
o The details of your unstable marital life.
o Your religious and political beliefs.
The potential employer certainly is
interested in your professional capabilities and not in your personal life. All
he wants to make sure is that you can diligently handle the task at hand.
·
I Hated My
Last Boss:
Your last boss was a living misery and the
sole purpose of his life was to make the lives of his subordinates miserable.
You know this but you potential employers don’t know! Trash talking is a highly
frowned upon habit. People do not like back biters in their team. Even if you
are rightly speaking, you would not be liked for cursing your boss.
·
I Don’t Know
Anything About the Company:
This is part of the homework that you should
be accompanied with while going to an
interview. If the interviewer asks why you are interested in this job and you
come up with this sort of reply, then it could be easily assumed that all you
are after is money and not a career. With today’s swift technology, there is no
excuse for this kind of reply except slackness and irresponsible attitude.
Google the company’s profile and grab all the important information so that you
can justify the reason for your application.
·
Don’t Talk
About Promptness…
Punctuality is a sought after trait. You show
up 10 minutes late; most probably it is going to be fine. It is not going to be
nice if you suggest afterwards that promptness is your strength. Avoid any such
contradictory statements.
Yes, Yes, Yes, No, No!
One word answers are never persuasive. At an
interview, it is your task to convince the interviewer that you are the perfect
person for the post and you can do a fine job. Even if the question is vague,
try hard to answer it in the best possible way. Don’t drone on and on, but
avail every chance to prove that you are the person they are hunting for.
·
Don’t
Embellish Your Experience
Don’t go too far on the road of convincing.
Be truthful and honest. If you don’t know something the interviewer asks for,
fess up and tell him how much you are looking forward to learn the new things.
If you brag about qualities you don’t have, chances are that sooner or later
the employer will find out. This situation will lead to even worse circumstances;
you will certainly not be liked and you might get kicked out!
·
I’m Going to
Need to Take These Days Off:
We all are committed to our personal lives
and we all need to fulfill our responsibilities. The potential employer is
clearly aware of this fact. Don’t bring up your personal life during the first
interview. If you make it to the offer stage, talk about your personal issues
and hopes. Talking about your life prior to a job offer will make an impression
that either you are self-obsessed or too confident that you will get the job.
·
And Another
Thing I Hate…
Don’t scorn in front of a potential employer.
Most people want to hear it all sweet and cutesy. Do not present opposing views
on subjects that do not matter. It seeds ill feelings and you might get a
rejection in the mind of the interviewer. If you don’t agree upon certain
things, either say it politely and respectfully or just let it go. After all
you want to score this job and have a good working relationship with your boss.
·
Most Common
Interview Blunders:
According to a survey, the following are the
errors job seekers make most often:
o
Using cell
phone: 77 percent
o
Appearing
disinterested: 75 percent
o
Dressing
improperly: 72 percent
o
Appearing
haughty: 72 percent
o
Talking
disapprovingly about current or previous employers: 67 percent
o
Chewing gum:
63 percent
During a job interview, the interviewer seems
vicious. Believe me, he does not want to humiliate or mortify you. He just
wants to make sure that he does his job flawlessly by choosing the right person
for the company. He is certainly not a sadist; his job (recruitment) makes him
appear so!
