We've all heard stories of job candidates who looked great
on paper but were absolute disasters in person. With
fewer interview opportunities available in this competitive
market, it's essential to make the best possible first
impression.
You can learn from the mistakes of others and avoid the top
10 worst interview blunders.
1. Poor handshake. The three-second handshake that starts
the interview is your first opportunity to create a great
impression. But all too often an interview is blown right
from the start by an ineffective handshake. Once you've
delivered a poor handshake, it's nearly impossible to
recover your efforts to build rapport. Here are some
examples:
* The Limp Hand: Gives the impression of disinterest
or weakness.
* The Tips of the Fingers: Shows lack of ability to
engage.
* The Arm Pump: Sincerity is questionable, much like an
over-agressive salesman.
Even if you're a seasoned professional, don't assume you
have avoided these pitfalls. Your handshake may be
telling more about you than you know. Ask for honest
critiques from several friends who aren't afraid to tell
you the truth.
2. Talking too much.
In my recruiting days, I abhorred over-talkative
candidates. So did most of my client employers.
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. Avoid nervous
talking by preparing for your interview with role-play.
3. Saying negative things about your current or past
employers/managers.
The fastest way to talk yourself out of a new job is to say
negative things. Even if your last boss was Attila the
Hun, never, never state your ill feelings about him/her.
No matter how reasonable your complaints, YOU will come out
the loser if you show that you disrespect your boss. When
faced with the challenge of talking about former employers,
make sure you are prepared with a positive spin on your
experiences.
4. Showing up late or too early.
The first lesson in job-search etiquette is to show up on
time for interviews. A lot of job seekers don't realize,
however, that showing up too early often creates a poor
first impression as well. Arriving more than ten minutes
early for an interview is a dead giveaway that the job
seeker has too much time on their hands, much like the last
one picked for the softball team.
Don't diminish your candidate desirability by appearing
desperate. Act as if your time were as valuable as
theirs. Always arrive on time, but never more than ten
minutes early.
5. Treating the receptionist rudely.
Since the first person you meet on an interview is usually
a receptionist, this is also the first impression you'll
make. Don't mistake low rank for low input. Often, that
receptionist's job is to usher you into your interview.
The receptionist has the power to pave your way positively
or negatively before you even set eyes on the interviewer.
6. Asking about benefits, vacation time or salary.
What if a car salesman asked to see your credit report
before allowing you to test drive the cars? That would be
ridiculous and you'd walk away in disgust. The effect is
about the same when a job seeker asks about benefits or
other employee perks during the first interview. Wait
until you've won the employer over before beginning that
discussion.
7. Not preparing for the interview.
Nothing communicates disinterest like a candidate who
hasn't bothered to do pre-interview research. On the flip
side, the quickest way to a good impression is to
demonstrate your interest with a few well thought out
questions that reflect your knowledge of their organization.
8. Verbal ticks.
An ill-at-ease candidate seldom makes a good impression.
The first signs of nervousness are verbal ticks. We all
have them from time to time-umm, like, you know. Ignore
the butterflies in your stomach and put up a front of calm
confidence by avoiding verbal ticks.
One of the best ways to reduce or eliminate them is through
role play. Practice sharing your best success stories
ahead of time, and you'll feel more relaxed during the real
interview.
9. Not enough/too much eye contact.
Either situation can create a negative effect: Avoid eye
contact and you'll seem shifty or untruthful; offer too
much eye contact, and you'll wear the interviewer out. If
you sometimes have trouble with eye-contact balance, work
this out ahead of time in an interview practice session
with a friend.
10. Failure to match communication styles.
It's almost impossible to make a good first impression if
you can't communicate effectively with an interviewer.
But you can easily change that situation by mirroring the
way the interviewer treats you. For instance:
* If the interviewer seems all business, don't attempt to
loosen him/her up with a joke or story. Be succinct and
businesslike.
* If the interviewer is personable, try discussing
his/her interests. Often the 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.
When you allow the interviewer to set the tone of
conversation, this can vastly improve your chances of
making a favorable impression. You can put the
interviewer at ease-and make yourself seem more like
them-by mirroring their communication style.
Just as a strong resume wins you an opportunity to
interview, strong interview skills will win you
consideration for the job. You already know that you
won't earn an interview unless your resume sets you apart
as a candidate of choice. Because of this, you commit
your resources to present an outstanding resume.
Likewise, you should know that polishing your interview
skills can mean the difference between getting the job-and
being a runner-up.
Start your job search with a resume that creates a stellar
first impression, then back those facts up with your
extraordinary interview skills. You will have made
yourself a better candidate by avoiding these ten interview
pitfalls. And no one will have to talk about you as the
candidate who "almost" got the job.
----------------------------------------------------
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. Read more about interview coaching at
http://www.AlphaAdvantage.com
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