5 Common Job Interview Mistakes to Avoid

Job interviews can be stressful. This makes it extremely easy to slip up and make a mistake during the interview. Especially when you want to portray yourself in the best possible light. Today, you’ll learn 5 of the most common job interview mistakes that people make and how to avoid them.

If we’ve never met before, I’m Heather Austin from ProfessorAustin.com and The Career Club on Facebook, and here, I share simple solutions to help you build a business or launch a career you love.

Interview Mistake #1 – Not Being Prepared

Before you go into your next interview, get to know everything you can about the company and the position you are applying for. Research the company’s website; learn what their mission is, what their core values are, etc.

Thoroughly review the job posting as well so that you know exactly what pain points the company is experiencing and how your skill set can help them solve their problems.

Interview Mistake #2 – Not Planning Ahead

Give yourself enough time to arrive at lease 15 minutes before the interview starts. Ahead of time, map out how long it will take you to get to your destination, and add extra time for traffic or walking.

Also, bring any extra documents you think you may need, such as a reference list or letters of recommendations.

The Ultimate Guide to Surviving your Job Search

A step-by-step resource guide with action items you can complete today to help you overcome the frustration and overwhelm of the job search.

Interview Mistake #3 – Not Dressing Appropriately

First impressions are everything, and trust me, you want to look sharp and well-put together on your interview day.

To properly plan your interview attire, research the company culture ahead of time to determine if your interview will be in a more professional or a more casual environment.

Plan your interview outfit accordingly. If you need some interview outfit ideas, click here to read my article that will walk you through what to wear (and what not to wear) to an interview.

Interview Mistake #4 – Not Being Prepared to Answer Common Interview Questions

Before your interview, practice your response to common questions, such as “Tell me about yourself,” “What are your greatest weaknesses?”, or “Why do you want to work here?”

Chances are your interviewer will ask you these or similar questions. You want to be prepared to answer these questions as quickly and efficiently as possible, so take the time to do so.

For example, you might jot down a handful of stories that demonstrate problems you’ve solved in the past and the results you’ve achieved. What you don’t want to do is come unprepared and ramble in your interview.

Interview Mistake #5 – Not Asking Questions During the Interview

One of the worst mistakes you can make during your interview is to not ask your interviewer questions. If you don’t ask them any questions, it will seem to them that you’re not genuinely interested in the position.

So, to show that you really want the job, prepare a set of questions ahead of time. This will turn your interview into a two-sided conversation, and it will help you decide if you really want to work there. (I’ve got you covered on this one! Click here to learn 5 of the best questions you can ask your interviewer.)

One Last Bonus Tip

This one may sound like common sense, but here’s a bonus tip: put your cell phone on “do not disturb” or turn it off completely.

The very last thing you want in an interview is to be interrupted or distracted. Now, you can go into your job interview feeling totally confident in yourself. Good luck!

The Ultimate Guide to Surviving your Job Search

A step-by-step resource guide with action items you can complete today to help you overcome the frustration and overwhelm of the job search.