Job Interview Slip Ups to Avoid at All Costs

Here are a few things that you shouldn’t do and some tips on how to avoid them! 

1. Arriving late – Being late for a job interview not only shows your potential employer that you have bad time management skills, but it also shows a lack of respect for the company. If you have a habit of being late for your appointments, stop it! Aim for arriving 15-30 minutes before your appointment time. This gives you a chance to calm your nerves, fit in any last minute prep and most importantly, avoid arriving late!
2. Leaving your phone on – Make sure you turn your phone off during your job interview. Not only would it be very disruptive if your phone were to go off in your interview, it would also appear very unprofessional on your part and shows a lack of respect for your interviewer’s time.
3. Not knowing enough about the company – Sometimes the interviewer may test your knowledge about the company and ask you what you know about it or what attracted you to the opening. This is one of the easiest questions that allows you to impress the interviewer, IF you do your homework before your interview. You can find most of the information about the company online, on the company’s official website, LinkedIn page, and even Facebook page. Familiarize yourself with your potential employer before you head to your interview.
4. Criticising your previous employer – Regardless of how unhappy you were with a previous employer, DO NOT criticise your ex-boss and co-workers. It’s a small world and you never know who your interviewer might know. He or she could be a personal friend of the boss you describe as an idiot!
5. Talking too much – The interviewer doesn’t need to know your whole life story. When you are asked a question, focus on this question and provide a clear and concise answer. Don’t get sidetracked and ramble on and on about your personal life!
6. Zoning out – You should give your interviewer your full attention and be prepared to answer anything they may ask you. If you allow yourself to zone out and miss a question or have to get them to repeat themselves, they may doubt how interested or committed you actually are to the role.

Interviews are scary because you only have one chance to impress the interviewer and he or she is going to be judging everything about you. Employers want to see confidence in their applicants.

The best way to stay confident is to be positive and prepared!