7 Job Interview Mistakes to Avoid and How

August 01, 2021

Job interviews can skew in any direction depending on the answers you give. People think that the interviewer drives the interview but in reality, it’s the candidate and his or her responses drive it. It’s all about psychology and it won't hurt you to learn a little about how to talk smartly about the things that can land you the job. Here are a few mistakes that we unknowingly make and how you can avoid them:

Job interview preparations

Over-preparing

Do you mug up every possible question for a job interview thinking it will be easier for you? It is never a good idea. Yes, being prepared is important but what if you over-prepare. It makes you look fictitious. Being genuine gives you an edge over others, spend the time preparing answers about why you don’t have a particular skill and how you plan on achieving it instead of faking that you do.

Honestly, I’m all for fake it till you make it but not when it comes to important skills that are imperative for the job.

What to do: Research about the job and note down common questions that are usually asked. Write down pointers to the answers.

What not to do: Write down all the answers, mug them word by word, and practice in front of the mirror.

Not asking questions

We all know the feeling of relief when the interview finally ends and how you just wanna get out of there. But that could make you miss a few important points, asking for feedback for one.

Every interview helps you learn what to do and what not to do in your next interview, give you more confidence. Thus, asking for feedback can help you understand what you did wrong and you can improve upon those errors which will indeed increase your chances to excel in your next interviews.

Secondly, you should know everything about the job you’re applying for and your responsibilities. It will give you a clearer picture of whether or not it’s the perfect job for you or should you keep on looking until you find your dream job.

Not being on top of trends

Trends keep on changing at an alarming rate. Every week there’s something new and different happening that no one ever imagined. Social media for one is changing every day, who knew memes would be used in marketing, and tik tok would be a popular platform to advertise products. You can’t be still talking about Facebook in your proposed marketing strategy in your interview. You need to know what’s in and what will work for the brand in the future.

Stay on top of new trends, the best way to do that is to bring active on Twitter and following influencers in your industry. Doing research right before your interview can help you talk about new things.

Not knowing your weaknesses

We all struggle when it comes to talking about our weaknesses. Most of us aren’t even aware of the things that need improvement let alone talk about them to our hiring personal.

But you can’t get rid of the question and it’s better to know a little about yourself.

It’s okay not to be completely honest if you’re not comfortable. But there can be little things like bad at time management or being over-prepared or maybe too much attention to details in short things that are still your weaknesses but not one that can’t be worked upon.

It’s time to be a little smart.

Keyword Stuffing your Resume

Big words don't make you look smart if you can’t explain them to your interviewer. Many people stuff their resumes with buzzwords which only makes it boring and difficult to understand. It also shows you’ve copied it from the web and are not an original thinker. Try being straightforward instead. Today less is more and if you can explain something in fewer words it’s much better than long paragraphs that nobody wanna read.

Bad Mouthing Your Previous Employers

People often unknowingly say the wrong things about their previous employer which can only make you look immature. Bad mouthing your previous company shows that you aren’t loyal and gives a negative vibe which can ruin your chances at getting hired. It also shows that you might have unresolved issues with your previous company. This in turn can make your background check stricter. Keep your feelings to yourself when it comes to talking about your previous work and only focus on the positive side.

Not having a good enough reason to quit your last job

There are a lot of reasons for leaving your last job but make sure it’s a good one. Avoid talking about anything negative that might have happened in case you were laid off. Interviewers tend to make assumptions about unemployed candidates. If the reason is personal it can save you from any judgments but if it’s related to your performance you should think about some other reason instead.

If you’re still employed, the answer can get trickier. The best answer would be to talk about better career opportunities and more responsibilities rather than salary and work culture.

Good luck with your next interview!

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