You’ve finally landed an interview for that job you’ve been eyeing. The day arrives. What’s the feeling leading you on? For most of us, it’s nervousness. We walk in as a bag of nerves waiting to pop. At times, this nervousness does more bad than good. We forget what we did, what we know, and, at times, even who we are.
Regardless of whether you’re a seasoned professional or a fresh graduate, moments like these can throw you off balance. But you can avoid them with the right preparation.
- 13 Common Mistakes in Interviews and How to Avoid Them
- Interview Mistake 1: You do not Research the Organization You are Interviewing With
- Interview Mistake 2: You do not Read the Job Description Carefully
- Interview Mistake 3: You don’t Ask Questions During an Interview
- Interview Mistake 4: You Speak Negatively About Previous Jobs or Employers
- Interview Mistake 5: You Don’t Show Your Authentic Self in an Interview
- Interview Mistake 6: You Don’t Test Your Set-up Before an Interview
- Interview Mistake 7: You Don’t Focus on Body Language in Interviews
- Interview Mistake 8: You are Not Ready to Discuss Salary
- Interview Mistake 9: You Fail to Sell Yourself
- Interview Mistake 10: You Don’t Match Your Skills to the Job
- Interview Mistake 11: You Don’t Appear Enthusiastic Enough to the Interviewer
- Interview Mistake 12: You Give Vague or Non-Specific Answers
- Interview Mistake 13: You Do Not Follow-up After the Interview
- Jumping Over Mistakes in Interviews
13 Common Mistakes in Interviews and How to Avoid Them
In this blog post, we’ll walk you through 13 common mistakes in interviews people often make, online or offline, and how to avoid them. These tips will help you make a positive impression and increase your chances of landing the job.
Interview Mistake 1: You do not Research the Organization You are Interviewing With
Authentic interest in the role is a basic requirement every recruiter holds. With this premise, if a candidate shows up without knowing what the company is all about, it sets the wrong precedent. Not researching the organization before setting up an interview shows a lack of care on behalf of the interviewee.
At times, the hiring manager might take it as carelessness. This gives the impression that you’re not serious about the job opportunity. The interviewer then questions your commitment and drive. They are likely to prefer candidates who demonstrate a clear understanding of the company’s goals, values, and culture. For success, it’s essential to show the interviewer that you have a genuine interest in the company and the role.
How can you avoid this common interview mistake?
First up, spend adequate time researching the company before your interview. Go beyond just a glance at the company website. Dive into their blog posts, check out their social media channels, read press releases, and search for recent news articles about them. For example, Amazon has written about interview mistakes that they commonly spot in a simple blog. This is like a cheat sheet you can use to save yourself from common mistakes in interviews that many have made before you.
Next, understand their products or services, their market position, their culture, and their mission and values. It will help you frame your answers in the interview and see if the company matches your career goals and values. You can make references and precise plans accordingly during the conversation.
Interview Mistake 2: You do not Read the Job Description Carefully
The job description tells you what the role involves and what skills and experiences the employer values. When you don’t read it carefully, you will not be aware of what the role demands and gives you. This is going to be visible in your answers, which the recruiter can easily notice when you are unable to articulate how your skills and experiences fit the profile they need. It can also lead to misunderstandings about the job responsibilities.
What should you do to avoid this common interview mistake?
Read the job description thoroughly and make a list of the key responsibilities and requirements. Identify where your skills and experiences align with these, and be prepared to provide examples during the interview. If anything is unclear, don’t hesitate to ask for clarification during the interview.
Interview Mistake 3: You don’t Ask Questions During an Interview
What’s the typical closure to an interview? “Do you have any questions for us?” While the idea of asking questions back might seem absurd. It’s great to remember that an interview is a two-way street. The company and you are both searching for a fit.
Not asking questions makes you appear disinterested or unprepared. This also means that you miss out on learning important information. This information could help you determine if the job and company are a good fit for you. Moreover, the interviewer may doubt your interest in the role and your initiative to learn more about the company and the job.
How can you avoid this common interview mistake the next time?
Prepare a list of thoughtful questions to ask during the interview. These could be about the team, the company culture, the day-to-day responsibilities of the role, or the company’s plans for the future of the role. Remember, your questions should reflect your interest in the role and the company.
Interview Mistake 4: You Speak Negatively About Previous Jobs or Employers
One of the most common interview questions is, why are you leaving your previous job? And it’s a tricky one. That’s where a lot of candidates end up making mistakes by revealing unbecoming qualities for a professional. You need to frame your departure correctly to place yourself as a good candidate for the next job.
If you are seen speaking negatively about your previous jobs and employers, it appears unprofessional. At times, this attitude does not permit the hiring manager to trust you. Reference checks also become harder with this. It may also cause the interviewer to question your attitude and teamwork abilities.
How can you avoid this common interview mistake?
While answering questions about your past, keep the view positive and future-oriented. For instance, if you are asked about a mistake you made. Talk about what you learned from it, and don’t try to blame someone else for the situation.
Similarly, if you are asked why you are leaving, frame the answer in the context of what you seek from the future and not about what you missed in the past. You can put in many reasons, as long as you do so in a professional language, for example:
- I am looking for more growth and learning opportunities and felt stagnant in this regard.
- I have spent a year learning XYZ skills, and I want to take up a role that gives me the space to apply and learn.
- I want to move from the fast-paced environment of a start-up to the optimized environment of a multinational company.
Interview Mistake 5: You Don’t Show Your Authentic Self in an Interview
While it’s important to present your best self in an interview, it’s equally important to be genuine. Pretending to be someone you’re not or exaggerating your skills and experiences can backfire. When the interviewer senses that you’re not being authentic, it damages their trust in you. If you’re hired based on skills you don’t have, you struggle in the role and create further career challenges in the long term.
How can you avoid this common interview mistake?
Be honest about your skills and experiences. Admitting if you don’t know something is okay – it’s better than getting caught in a lie. Past experiences are not all, your attitude toward the future can help a lot. Show enthusiasm for the role and the company, but don’t pretend to be interested in something if you’re not. At times, authentic interest and curiosity in solving a problem is a bigger asset than the skill itself, on which a company can nonetheless train you.
Interview Mistake 6: You Don’t Test Your Set-up Before an Interview
Technical glitches during an online interview cause interruptions and make you appear unprepared. Plus, it breaks the flow of the conversation and makes you more jittery, which is simply worse.
If your video stops, the sound is unclear, or the internet is not steady, it can affect how the interviewer sees you. This takes away from the conversation. It is pretty important when you are applying for remote jobs, where online communication and connectivity are important metrics in the evaluation of candidates.
How can you avoid this interview mistake?
Before the interview, check your internet connection, camera, and microphone. Ensure that you are familiar with the software used for the interview. If there are any pre-checks required to meet system requirements, close them at the earliest. Close unnecessary applications on your computer to ensure it runs smoothly. Log in a few minutes before the interview to resolve any last-minute issues.
Interview Mistake 7: You Don’t Focus on Body Language in Interviews
Non-verbal communication plays a crucial role during interviews, whether in-person or online. Avoiding eye contact, slouching, or not showing facial expressions makes others think you’re not confident or interested. That’s how subtle signs create an impact. They make the unsaid clear and comprehensible to the other party.
In addition to simply modifying your body language, keep an eye on the body language of the interviewer to see how it’s going. It will help you understand and adapt as the conversation progresses.
How can you avoid such common mistakes in interviews?
Be mindful of your body language. Maintain good posture, make appropriate eye contact, and use natural gestures. During an online interview, sit in front of the camera. Make sure you have a clean background. Show clear expressions and gestures. All in all, when you think of communicating the best version of yourself, don’t forget that communication goes beyond words.
Interview Mistake 8: You are Not Ready to Discuss Salary
It’s common for interviewers to ask about your salary expectations. If you’re unprepared, you might end up stating a number that’s too high or too low, which could affect your negotiation position later on. Plus, going ahead with the discussions without properly framed responses could signal a lack of interest.
Your salary expectation should align with what the company can offer. Make sure to research the company’s salary range before discussing your expectations. This will help you negotiate a fair and competitive salary. If it’s too low, you could end up being underpaid.
Having too high or too low expectations could impact your chances of getting hired. Moreover, if you are seeking a raise against your previous experience, be prepared to explain why you deserve it and how it will help you with financial and psychological security on the job.
How to avoid this common interview mistake?
Do your research to understand the typical salary range for the role in your location. Be honest about your expectations, but also show flexibility. If you are asked early in the interview, say you want to learn more about the job before talking about pay so that you can make an informed decision. Plus, ensure that you are communicating the expectations in the right tone.
Interview Mistake 9: You Fail to Sell Yourself
More often than not, we underestimate what we can do, and this shows in our choices. Being too modest and not articulating your skills and achievements effectively makes it difficult for the interviewer to assess your suitability for the role. At the same time, you surely lose on higher compensation and growth.
If you don’t sell yourself effectively, the interviewer might underestimate your abilities or overlook your potential. You also come across as lacking confidence.
How can you avoid this interview mistake next time?
Be ready to discuss your achievements and skills confidently. Prepare examples that demonstrate your abilities and throw in numbers to showcase the impact in a way that’s easy to measure. Remember, it’s not bragging if you’re simply stating the facts about your accomplishments. Be ready to own the efforts you have made so far.
That’s just one part. If you hit the search button, you will find that many companies have created resources to support candidates and prevent common mistakes in interviews. For instance, McKinsey has shared practice case studies and relevant assessments to prepare for interviews better. There’s a goldmine awaiting you, just start looking.
Interview Mistake 10: You Don’t Match Your Skills to the Job
It’d be absurd if a software engineer applied to the role of a photographer, wouldn’t it be? Barring the circumstance where the engineer is also a hobbyist photographer and excels at it, there’s no match and the application itself is quite confusing.
Talking about your skills without relating them to the job confuses the interviewer. This can make it hard for them to see how you would be a good match for the position. On the other hand, if you talk about a specific skill, say SEO, and showcase the impact you can create, like generating more quality leads, the interviewer will clearly understand what you can do with the role. Often, during a job hunt, we apply to everything, and that’s simply a bad strategy because skills need to match for a successful fit.
How can you avoid this mistake in the next interview?
When discussing your skills or experiences, always try to relate them to the job requirements. To do this effectively, go through the JD clearly and understand what skills are relevant to the role. Explain how you could apply these skills in the role and how they would benefit the company.
Interview Mistake 11: You Don’t Appear Enthusiastic Enough to the Interviewer
If you seem uninterested during the interview, the interviewer will doubt your interest in the job and the company. After all, a low attitude is the first signal of a lack of seriousness on the job and potential mishaps. While we get it, it’s necessary to appear calm and composed.
There’s a delicate balance that you need to tread, which mixes genuine curiosity and interest in what the company is doing. Not showing excitement in interviews can make interviewers doubt if you fit the company culture. It’s important to show enthusiasm.
How to avoid this mistake in your next interview?
Show your enthusiasm through your body language, tone of voice, and responses. Express your interest in the role and the company, and ask insightful questions that show you’re eager to learn more. For example, to show interest in taking up the role, you can ask questions like:
- What does the average day at work look like?
- What are the current goals of the team?
- What are the expectations from this role in the first 30 days?
Interview Mistake 12: You Give Vague or Non-Specific Answers
Vague and unclear answers make judgment harder for the interviewer. This is because they do not get a clear understanding of your qualifications and experience. You need to provide specific and concise responses during the interview. It helps the interviewer make an informed decision about your candidacy.
Vague answers give the impression that you’re not fully prepared or that you may be trying to avoid the question. This can lead to doubts about your communication skills or your qualifications for the role.
How can you avoid this common interview mistake?
Make sure to answer the question asked directly and provide specific examples when possible. You can follow the STAR method to structure your answers properly and include legitimate details. But, ensure that you are not bombarding the interviewer with too many details either. If you don’t understand a question, it’s better to ask for clarification than to provide a vague or off-topic answer.
Interview Mistake 13: You Do Not Follow-up After the Interview
If you are one of those people who think, why bother? There’s a lot that you are losing. Following up after the interview can make you stand apart very easily:
First, it shows your interest in the role and your attitude toward work. By sending a simple follow-up email to the hiring manager thanking them for the conversation, you ensure that they remember you and your openness to learning and growing with them.
Second, follow-up emails are a great way to seek feedback from the interviewers. While not all may respond, a few can offer helpful suggestions to improve your performance in interviews.
How can you avoid this common mistake in interviews?
Send a follow-up email or note thanking the interviewer for their time. Reiterate your interest in the role and the company. This can leave a positive impression and set you apart from other candidates. In this email, you also share your thoughts and seek feedback on specific areas from the hiring manager. Irrespective of results, it leaves a positive impression and also marks you are a learner.
Jumping Over Mistakes in Interviews
Avoiding common pitfalls in job interviews can seem daunting, especially when you’re just starting. But remember, even the most seasoned professionals have been in your shoes. With careful preparation and by being mindful of these common mistakes in interviews, you can navigate your journey with confidence.
We’ve walked you through 13 common mistakes in an interview, from failing to research the company to not checking your tech before an online interview. Now that you’re aware of these potential pitfalls and how to avoid them, you’re one step closer to acing your interviews and landing your dream job.
Remember, every interview is a learning experience. Even if you stumble, each interview is an opportunity to improve and grow as a professional.
As you prepare for your interviews, know that you’re not alone in this journey. At Advanced Baba, we’re here to support you every step of the way. From preparing for interviews to crafting the perfect resume, we offer personalized, AI-driven guidance to help you navigate the job search. Sign up today and let us empower you to secure the job opportunities you deserve.