7 High-Cost Interview Mistakes that are Easy to Avoid

Is your job search taking much longer than expected? Have you gone on interviews and feel it went well, but you still didn’t get the job? Interviewing in a competitive job market can be more challenging than one might think. COVID-19 has not made the interview process any easier – instead, it has only added the wrinkle of having to perform well virtually through video, which may cause even more challenges – not to mention stress. Perhaps the worst part is that very often you may receive little or no feedback and never truly know where things went wrong.

Here is a list of 7 common mistakes to avoid in your next interview!

1.??????Dressing unprofessionally

We have seen many candidates try to cut corners on their dress, especially in this new virtual environment, and it’s a bad look overall, whether live or on camera. For men, it is best to take the time to put on a suit for the final interview regardless of how it is conducted. Ladies don’t necessarily need to wear a suit, but they do need to have professional attire as well. As a rule, if you would not wear something to a live interview, don’t wear it on Zoom either!

2.??????Breaking out of professional mode and getting too comfortable during the interview

It is important to remember that this is an interview, regardless of how friendly the group is. Sometimes candidates get too comfortable, relaxing into poor language or disclosing too much information (sometimes very personal information). As a reminder, it is best to stay positive, professional, and polished. The company is assessing how you would interact with others both internally and externally. ?Your professional demeanor, attitude, and communication skills are extremely important.

3.??????Conducting the interview in an unprofessional location

Always ensure that you interview in a quiet, neutral, and secure space. Interviewers take notice of candidates’ surroundings, both visually and audibly. If there is anything distracting in your background or via audio, it can significantly detract from the interview. It can also be a distraction to you, which can affect your concentration and impact how well you answer a question.

4.??????Lack of “Thank You”

Many candidates stumble and fail to send a personalized “thank you” note after their interview. This is an easy step that will really enhance the person’s candidacy. Within 24 hours of your interview, always send a “thank you” note to your interviewers. Keep it concise and reiterate your interest. Often, the decision can be very tight between two well-qualified candidates, and it could be the thoughtful and genuine “thank you” note from one that ultimately tips the scale.

?5.??????Presentation Disasters

Sometimes candidates are required to conduct a presentation as part of an interview, which can, and often is, the deciding factor as to who wins the job. ?Some of the most common pitfalls include nerves, lack of preparation/practice, unfamiliarity with their topic, and reading word-for-word off the slides. As a general rule of thumb, always pick a topic that you truly shine in speaking about. Pick something that you know extensively and can answer questions about without hesitation. When it comes to an article, read the entire paper. Drawing conclusions from incomplete information can prove that you did not take the time to fully prepare, nor did you have enough true interest in learning about the company’s science.

6.??????Lack of preparation on the organization: products, pipeline, mission, etc.

Some candidates think they can just “wing it,” but that could not be less true. Candidates will be asked in-depth questions about the company, product and/or service offerings, and what drew them to interview for the opportunity. If you do not prepare and have ample information about the organization to speak to, it will be obvious and come across as lack of interest.

7.??????Lack of questions

Nothing portrays lack of interest or preparation like not asking well thought-out questions. Interviewers will always ask candidates if they have any questions, usually at the end of an interview to wrap up. You will want to prepare at least 3-4 solid questions to ask. They can be about the future vision for the organization, current or upcoming products, services, or developments, or company culture, etc. However, make sure they are thought-out and relevant, since your question might stimulate others – be prepared to answer those as well!

It is not uncommon for job-seekers to focus more thought on what TO DO during an interview rather than what NOT TO DO. Oftentimes, it is some of the smallest details and seemingly insignificant moments that add up to make the biggest difference in an interview’s ultimate outcome. Be sure to spend as much time as you can to prepare, practice, and coordinate your efforts so that you can avoid these common interview mistakes and win the job!

About the Author:

Tom Caravela has 30 years of pharmaceutical industry experience and is the Founder and Managing Partner of The Carolan Group and Host of the MSL Talk podcast. Founded in 2002, The Carolan Group is a leading pharmaceutical and biotech search firm specializing in Medical Affairs and Medical Science Liaison recruitment. Tom is responsible for leading a team of expert recruiters and account managers in client expansions for various levels of field-based and in-house Medical Affairs professionals including Medical Science Liaisons, MSL Leaders, Managed Care/HEOR Liaisons, Medical Directors as well as various other medical and clinical affairs roles. With almost 3 decades of pharmaceutical industry experience, Tom is a frequent speaker and Medical Affairs Consultant for clients, advisory boards and industry meetings. His strategic interests focus on hiring, retention and career development for the field based MSL role.