Four Red Flags Blocking Interview Success

Getting to the interview stage is 50% of the success in today’s competitive market. However, how you perform on that day is crucial, and I have seen many well-qualified candidates stumble during their interviews. The reasons vary, but I have identified some common issues that candidates often overlook, which prevent them from achieving the remaining 50% of success.

Over-Preparation

There are numerous guides available online that can help you prepare for your job interview, and Rohit followed the same approach. He browsed through materials, learned answers to typical questions, practiced his responses, and even checked his body language in the mirror. During the interview, Rohit confidently gave answers as rehearsed, yet he was not selected.

Red flags: Rohit sounded mechanical and gave close-ended answers. He couldn’t engage with the interviewer because his focus was solely on remembering his memorized responses rather than appearing natural and spontaneous. When he was asked an unexpected question, Rohit became nervous and struggled to respond articulately.

Preparation is essential. Prepare key points for each question, but keep your responses flexible so you’re ready to adapt when needed.        

Under-Selling Your Skills

Avoid using 'just a' in your sentences, especially when discussing your achievements or contributions. When Mark was asked to explain his accomplishment in a team project, he responded, 'Oh, it was a team effort; I only did a small part.' Similarly, Jane focused solely on her job title, saying, 'It’s only a support function,' failing to highlight the critical role she played in streamlining her team’s operations.

Red flags: Self-doubt or downplaying your achievements often reflects poorly on you, even if it’s unintentional. When you don’t clearly communicate the impact of your work, the interviewer might assume you lack the full range of abilities they’re seeking.

Practice affirming your achievements and frame your experience in terms of impact. For example, instead of saying you 'just assisted,' say, 'I supported a 15% increase in efficiency by optimizing team workflows.'        

Poor Communication

Often, candidates focus on improving their communication style by refining their accent, vocabulary, and tone. So, what’s wrong with that? Maria had taken English language classes from a native speaker, spending three months confidently practicing and learning. However, when she went for the interview, she found that her interviewers spoke with different dialects. Although she spoke her best, her responses often left the interviewers confused.

Red flags: Maria spoke at a pace that didn’t align with the interviewers’ and some of the words and jargon she used were inappropriate for the context of their discussion.

Effective communication is about adapting to the room and ensuring clarity. Pay attention to the interviewer’s tone and pace, and make sure your answers are easily understood. If they seem unclear, politely ask if they’d like you to clarify your point.        

Over-Reliance On Your Resume

Your resume can help you achieve 50% of your success, but the remaining 50% depends on your performance during the interview. Sarah believed her work would speak for itself, so she highlighted her qualifications, skills, projects, and notable accolades on her resume. When the interviewer asked her to provide more details about these accomplishments, Sarah simply repeated what was written, adding nothing new. The interviewer was not impressed.

Red flags: Sarah only shared the end results, which were already listed on her resume. She missed the opportunity to discuss her approach, problem-solving skills, and add a narrative to her milestones that would have illustrated how she handles real-life challenges.

An interview is an opportunity to add personality to your professional background. Use examples and stories to showcase your experience and demonstrate how your work ethic aligns with the role.        

Approach your next interview with flexibility, confidence and the intention to engage authentically, and you’ll increase your chances of landing the job.

If you're looking to improve your interview skills, I can help. DM for personalized coaching and take the next step toward acing your interviews! I am Ruheena Kabir, Career Coach & Talent Acquisition Specialist with 20+ years in corporate HR.

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