We've all heard stories of job candidates who looked great
on paper but who were absolute disasters in person. With
fewer interview opportunities available in our competitive
job market, it's essential to make the best possible first
impression. Learn from the mistakes of others and avoid
these top five worst interview blunders:
1. Not preparing for the tough interview questions.
Like every job seeker, you probably have your own set of
tough interview questions you hope will never be asked. The
best strategy is to prepare ahead of time with answers to
ALL of these questions. A career coach can be a great
resource for helping you work out suitable answers with a
positive spin on negative or challenging career situations.
2. Failure to match communication styles.
Making a great first impression is easier to do when you
communicate effectively with your interviewer. The best way
to do this is by mirroring his or her communication style.
Allowing your interviewer to set the tone of the
conversation will put him or her at ease and makes the
conversation flow more naturally.
For instance:
* If the interviewer seems all business, don't attempt to
loosen him or her up with a joke or story. Be succinct
and businesslike.
* If the interviewer is personable, try discussing his or
her interests. Often personal items on display in the
office can be a clue.
* If asked a direct question, answer directly. Then
follow up by asking if more information is needed.
3. Talking too much.
In my recruiting days, I abhorred over-talkative
candidates, and so did most of my client employers who
interviewed these candidates. Over-talking takes several
forms:
* Taking too long to answer direct questions. The
impression: This candidate just can't get to the point.
* Nervous talkers. The impression: This candidate is
covering up something or is outright lying.
To avoid either of these forms of over-talking, practice
answering questions in a direct manner. Using
role-playing in preparing for your interview will help you
avoid excessive, nervous talking.
4. Saying negative things about your current or past
employers or managers.
Even if your last boss was Attila the Hun, avoid stating
your ill feelings about the person or work situation. No
matter how reasonable your complaints, your negative
comments will be viewed as disrespect towards your boss.
When faced with the challenge of talking about former
employers, make sure you are prepared with a positive spin
on your experiences.
5. Giving away too much salary and earnings information.
Candidates often weaken their future earning potential by
speaking too freely about their current income. No matter
the official salary range of the position you are
interviewing for, your current earnings have an enormous
effect on the size of the offer. Investing in a career
coach to help you answer salary questions can add thousands
of dollars to your new job offer.
You already know that it takes a strong resume that sets
you apart as a candidate of choice to be invited for an
interview. The next step is to hone your interviewing
skills to actually win job offers. Polishing your
interviewing skills can mean the difference between getting
the job and being a runner-up.
----------------------------------------------------
Deborah Walker, Interview Coach, offers an individualized
approach to interview strategies. Her background as former
executive recruiter and veteran career management coach
provides an insider's perspective on the toughest interview
challenges. Visit Deb on the web at
http://www.AlphaAdvantage.com
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