A job interview is an extremely important part of life, especially when it’s your first interview when you freshly get your degree in your hands and search for jobs, or some colleges also offer placements. Still, no recruiter will ever offer a job without taking an interview. While an interview is crucial for people who look for jobs, it is perhaps even more important for a recruiter as whoever passes in it, your answers, personality. This blog explains that what not to do in a Job Interview.
Everything is analyzed even when you think nobody’s watching you. In a job interview, this proverb is too apt: “the first impression is the last impression” Not just your academic or creative skills, but your overall personality determines if you’ll sustain in a race of thousands for a job or not. That is why you must pay attention to the –
Things to Be Strictly Avoided in A Job Interview
- Don’t Be Overconfident: As being confident is important, not being overconfident is equally important too. You wouldn’t want to lose your job for this tiny stupid mistake, right? The interviewer has a CV and all the documents needed for deciding whether you should do the job or not. Make sure, you don’t exaggerate your skills.
- Don’t Be Underprepared: The place you are going for a job interview and the company you will possibly be working with, you must know basic information and knowledge about these. The interviewer might ask you at least a couple of things about their company and of course, you should know about the place you are going to work.
- Don’t Ask Too Much: Remember it’s just an interview, you haven’t even got a confirmation from their side. So refrain from asking too many questions regarding payment, negotiating or asking a certain amount or vacations, and extras. Remember they have a lot of people to choose from, you need this job.
- Don’t Talk in Between: You may have queries and questions, but talking in the middle of an interview shows how impatient you are. It’s highly unprofessional as well. Listen to the question well and then answer it, or ask your questions. There might be some questions you want to answer like a pro, but don’t interrupt the interviewer. Let them stop so that they can listen to you better. Stopping them in the middle is just a bit stubborn and not at all recommended of course.
- Don’t Forget to Put Your Phone on Silent: Suppose you’re in the middle of the interview, the interviewer seems quite impressed too, but exactly at that time your phone rings on full volume, shaking you off the chair. Awkward right? So put your phone on silent or switch it off. No matter how important of a call you get, finish your interview and then call back.
- Don’t Bring Stuff to Eat: It may happen when you’re running late and probably don’t get to have breakfast or just forget. Don’t take anything to eat at the interview though. You can have some chocolate or protein/granola bars while you’re on your way to the interview place. Often they offer the interviewees coffee or refreshments, but don’t ask for anything unless you are offered.
- Don’t Be Too Friendly: You may find out that your interviewers are pretty cool and so kind, just what you would like in a friend. But, don’t be too friendly while the interview is going on. You can do it after the interview is done, most preferably outside the office.
- Don’t Talk Bad About Ex- Colleagues: For any reason, you may have to leave your previous job which leads you to this interview. Mention how you are grateful for the opportunity the job provided you, how it was useful in gaining experience, brushing up skills but never talk negatively. That’s where they check your mentality, how you think. Don’t talk bad about your ex-boss or colleagues or anyone, as the interviewer can definitely think today it’s your previous job and people, tomorrow they might be in a similar place which can lessen your chance of getting an offer letter.
- Don’t Mention About Your Backups: You may have multiple interviews scheduled for the day or week, but don’t tell about these plans to any of your interviewers. Make them feel how you are specially prepared and are interested in that specific job and be serious about it. When they know you’ve got backup plans and just giving your shot, it certainly isn’t a good impression.
- Don’t Be Disinterested or Rude: Don’t forget to use polite words during your interview. At the very start when they ask you to sit, do say thank you. If anywhere you were unable to listen to the question or didn’t understand it, you can use “excuse me?” Or “Pardon me?”, which are good professional words. You should definitely enhance your vocabulary before an interview too. After the interview has ended and you are leaving, say thanks again as you got an experience of a good interview.
If you are really interested in the job or not, send a thank you email after the interview when you come home. It will also convey to the interviewer that you are really serious about the opportunity and are willing to work with them. It will also highlight your profile in front of their eyes, as not everyone or very few people send a thank you email after an interview. Most of them wait for the offer letter/call or keep searching for different opportunities.
Things to Improve Your Interview
- Be Confident: We know this job means a lot to you and being a little nervous is obvious. But don’t be too afraid that it overshadows your talents or/and plus points. Answer the questions confidently, the interviewer should know that you’re capable of the opportunity.
When you are nervous, it shows up on your face and body language. Sit comfortably and straight and keep your facial expressions relaxed. Also, nervousness keeps you from making the right decisions. Do remember that you are judged thoroughly if you are capable of the job or not, you have to give your best. - Learn How to Mail Professionally: If you got details about the interview by mail and you have to reply to your answer to proceed further, make sure you use grammatically correct words, no errors, and use proper words instead of SMS abbreviations. If your mail response is not decent and professional, you might not get a call for an interview in the first place.
- Keep A Good Body Language: It May sound strange but it’s true that interviewers also check body posture and language. The way you sit, how you cross your legs, keep your hands, how you talk or move your hands and facial expressions while you talk or just sit with a humped back and dead scared facial expressions, visible sweating and scratching your head, moving fingers or tapping feet on the ground.
Mind you, good eye contact is great to assure your interviewer how you are best suited for the role. Look in the eyes of the interviewer while answering the questions. It looks promising and might boost your confidence as well. - Be Present: Only being present physically is not of any use. It’s just like that class where you didn’t pay attention and you didn’t know anything about it in exams. Carefully listen to the questions asked and answer in the same manner. Don’t think about anything, literally anything else when you’re giving an interview, because you have to give your 100% and when it’s the case; you have to be 100% attentive and alert. Don’t stray away from the question asked. Give appropriate answers and just as much as you should. It should be descriptive but don’t stretch too long.
- Maintain Hygiene: Maintaining personal hygiene is a must. It’s not just about your clean and bright clothes but your body too. If you sweat a lot, make sure to use an antiperspirant or deodorant. Use a mild perfume too, but not too strong which can make someone’s nose tickle.
Just to make sure you smell good, chew candy or gum before entering the interview cabin. Have a good and decent hairstyle (for guys) and girls, please don’t leave your hair open if they’re frizzy or you’ve got dandruff. Trust me it looks really unprofessional. A nice bun or ponytail will be fine. Although, don’t overdo anything. Keep it simple and sober. - Dress Up Well: This is one of the most important things that must be done right. When it’s about a job interview, don’t think wearing formals is all about dressing up, because it is not. The interviewer wants to see how you’ll be representing as a staff to the others. Also, it’s pretty much the first thing to notice in a person.
Don’t run behind matching everything up and using colors that hurt eyes, rather choose subtle and pastel, soft colors. Plains are best friends, but if you don’t have anything plain, minimal would work too. Just know how and what to pair with it to look professional. So, next time you go for an interview; make sure to remember the list of these 16 Don’ts.
Best of luck!
What Not to Do in A Job Interview?
