Good news, bad news. Bad news: The majority of job seekers are blowing it in their job interviews. So the bar is pretty low. Now the good news: You can stand out in interviews by being just plain old prepared. Well-rehearsed, smart about your answers, balanced with confidence and humility and concise.
So instead of lecturing you more about the “crap” that happens in interviews (both with candidates seeking employment outside their company or within their company), I’ll just point out the multiple bloopers. In this blog, I won’t go into all of the solutions and best ways to interview. Come back to DanaManciagli.com for coaching. In my 30+ years hiring, interviewing and helping thousands of job seekers, the following 30, in no particular order, are the most popular mistakes.
- Not listening to the question.
- Babbling on and on and on and on
- Not having interesting questions.
- No Passion, Low Energy.
- Cocky, not Self-Aware or not humble.
- Negative about your prior company, prior boss, or prior anything.
- Not being prepared with good ‘ole strengths and weaknesses.
- Forgot to go for the close, or ask to continue to the next step of the hiring process.
- Slow with turnaround on a request from the Hiring Manager.
- Smelling. Onions, cigarette smoke, perfume, cologne.
- Chewing gum.
- Phone on and vibrating or ringing
- Dressed inappropriately, sloppy.
- Nothing to write with (and I don’t mean on a PC or phone).
- Having something to write with, but not writing anything down.
- Spilling a cup of coffee or soda.
- Leaving your dirty cup of coffee or soda on their desk upon departure.
- Sticky or wimpy handshake.
- No eye contact.
- Slouching.
- Interrupting.
- Forgetting your resume, not having enough copies.
- Not knowing the job description of the position you are interviewing for.
- Not doing research on the web about the company, division, hiring manager, etc.
- Scuffed shoes.
- Listening to music or talking on your phone in the waiting room.
- Asking about salary or benefits.
- Left your manners at home.
- Messy with your stuff: messy papers, coat, bags, purses all disheveled, no hand free to shake hands.
- Being late!
More bad news: there are more than these 30! But I thought I would stop here and cry “Cut the Crap, Get a Job!”
