Job Interview Mistakes to Avoid

In the hiring process, knowing what not to do in an interview is just as important as having a polished resume and strong references.

Like most interpersonal interactions, job interviews can be quite subjective. But experts have identified common interview mistakes that you should dodge to improve your chances of making a great impression.

Here is the ultimate list of interview mistakes to avoid:

1. Failing to prepare

Approach a job interview the way you would a test. It's important to study detailed information about the company where you're applying so you're ready to talk about how your skills are a good fit for its business.

To stand out from the pack, do enough research to be able to discuss the company's recent merger or new business model, says Kelly Marinelli, principal people strategy consultant at Solve HR. "It really shows your passion for the specific role and the company, and that's something that sets you apart."

Besides, preparing thoroughly may help calm your nerves.

"You get confidence from competence," says Bill Cole, chief executive of William B. Cole Consultants.

2. Failing to research your interviewer

Go into the interview armed with information about the person with whom you'll be conversing. You may discover a shared interest you can talk about to build rapport. Or you may find out that the interviewer has connections at one of your past employers.

3. Wearing the wrong outfit

We all know it's wrong to judge a book by its cover – but interviewers often do just that. Show up to your interview looking too informal or dishevel-ed, and you may make a bad impression before you even introduce yourself.

4. Not being punctual

Arriving a few minutes early – experts recommend about 10 minutes – serves two purposes. It proves that you're organised, reliable and eager. It also allows you to take some time to compose yourself, use the restroom and prepare for the impending conversation.

You may be tempted to arrive very early, but don't. It may inconvenience your interviewer.

"I have countless candidates show up a half hour early, and it's irritating. It starts the interview off on the wrong foot," Marinelli says. Instead, (s)he advises, "sit in your car until five or 10 minutes before."

5. Using your cellphone

Even if you're simply checking the time, stealing glances at your cellphone may come across as rude or suggest you're easily distracted. Before you go into the interview room, turn off your devices and store them out of sight. You may be accustomed to taking notes on your phone, but in a job interview, use a pen and a paper notebook instead.

6. Asking questions with obvious answers

Don't ask anything that betrays ignorance of the company's basic information. If it's available on the website, you should know about it.

"These days, there's no excuse for job seekers not to do a little bit of research," Marinelli says. "The last thing employers want to see is that someone just wants a job and it doesn't matter to them that they're interviewing with us."

7. Badmouthing past employers

Nothing reveals a bad attitude like excessively criticising your current or previous employers. Your interviewer will instantly wonder whether you'd talk about her and her company that way if (s)he hired you.

8. Getting too personal

Using a friendly tone is nice, but it's important not to cross a line by sharing too much personal information. Remember, you never know how the person sitting across from you will react to a story about your weekend antics. You only get limited time with the interviewer, so stay focused on your professional accomplishments and the company's needs.

9. Bringing up salary and benefits too soon

Experts agree: Job candidates should never bring up the topic of salary first, because it puts them in a weaker negotiation position. Additionally, talking about it too early may give the impression that you're only interested in the job for its perks. So save this conversation for after you've been offered the job.

10. Not anticipating questions about salary

However, you should be prepared to talk about your salary expectations in case the interviewer raises the topic.

11. Having poor body language

Communication goes beyond words. It's important to make eye contact while listening and speaking, offer a firm handshake and sit with good posture. Try not to channel your nervous energy into fidgeting.

12. Lying

This is always a bad idea. When the company discovers the truth, you'll be immediately disqualified from this job and likely all future opportunities.

13. Failing to sell yourself

This is not the time to be humble. Don't assume the interviewer will remember every detail from your resume about the awards you've won or the sales goals you've exceeded. Women are especially prone to deflecting credit for their accomplishments and should practice explaining their qualifications and describing their talents.

14. Selling yourself too aggressively

On the other hand, it's a mistake to come on too strong. Don't brag to the point of arrogance, and don't try to dominate the conversation.

"Some people, many in sales or marketing or who have stronger personalities, they will tend to take over the interview. They're controlling the situation too much," Cole says. "You want to vet the interviewer, but you can't give even a hint that you're doing so, because you'll come across as an overbearing control freak."

15. Making it all about you

From an employer's perspective, the purpose of a job interview is to determine whether a candidate is a good match for the company's needs. That means your answers should focus on how the company will benefit from hiring you, not how you will benefit from getting the job, Cole says.

16. Neglecting to ask questions

Almost every interview will conclude with the interviewer asking, "Do you have any questions for me?"

Declining to take advantage of this opportunity is a "fatal mistake," Cole says. It sends the message that you are not especially interested or that you arrogantly think you know everything there is to know about the company.

Cole recommends asking questions throughout the interview so that it feels like "a flowing, organic conversation."

And when the interviewer inevitably wraps up by asking if you have any more questions, Cole suggests replying like this: "I have so many questions I will run out of time, so I will jump right in."

"It indicates you have incredible interest in that company," he says.

17. Botching the question about your "biggest weaknesses"

When the interviewer asks about your biggest weakness, you may be tempted to offer a cute answer, such as, "I work too hard." But that may send the message that you aren't self-aware, can't handle constructive criticism or aren't taking the interview very seriously.

Prepare a thoughtful, honest answer to this question as well as an explanation of how you're working to improve.

18. Being long-winded

Telling rambling stories wastes the interviewer's time and decreases the opportunities you have to cover all of the ground you'd like to in the conversations. Communication skills are key in many positions, so the interviewer is likely assessing your ability to speak with clarity and brevity.

19. Gushing

Don't go overboard with compliments directed at the interviewer or the company. These may sound disingenuous.

20. Not making yourself available during normal business hours

It may be difficult to fit a job interview into your schedule, especially if you're already working full time, but hiring managers will usually expect job candidates to accommodate interviews during regular working hours. Be prepared to take vacation time if necessary.

21. Referring to any illegal activity

This is not the time to talk about recreational drug use or any other hobbies that violate the law or employer conduct policies

22. Being rude

Make a good impression on everyone you encounter. You never know whose opinion counts in the hiring process.

"It's important to be friendly to everyone because with my clients, we ask the receptionist, we ask the parking garage attendant, especially with higher-level roles, was this person respectful to you and friendly?" Marinelli says.

23. Expressing desperation or anger

These traits are unattractive to hiring managers. No matter how strongly you may dislike your current job or how intensely you desire to land a new position, keep your emotions in check at the interview.

24. Neglecting to ask about next steps

At the end of your conversation, if the interviewer hasn't offered information about what you should expect next in the hiring process, feel free to ask. This demonstrates you're interested and keeps you informed.

25. Posting on social media about your interview

Don't post anything you wouldn't want your potential new employer to see, and don't tip your current employer off that you may be job hunting.

The Dos and Don'ts of Video Interviews

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Remember Robert E. Kelly? In 2017, the political science professor was conducting an on-air video interview with BBC news when his children, then wife, barged into the room. The mortified Kelly tried to soldier on, to hilarious effect.

While this disastrous spectacle delighted viewers, it would likely irritate a hiring manager. Making sure your video call won't be interrupted is essential.

Here are the interview dos and don'ts for conducting video calls:

1. DO: take it seriously

You're not in the company's office, but you should still give this interview the gravitas it deserves.

It's tempting to dress professionally from just the shoulders up, but be prepared for the possibility of having to move around or get up while in front of the camera. Dressing professionally will help you feel more confident, too.

2. DO: eliminate distractions

Set your computer up in a quiet, private location with a neutral background. Close your email and any websites that make noise. Make sure your pets and family members will not interrupt you.

3. DO: test your internet connection, web camera and microphone.

If possible, conduct the video interview using an Ethernet connection, not Wi-Fi. Make sure your entire face is in the frame. Figure out how to look directly at the camera lens so that the interviewer perceives you are making eye contact.

4. DON'T: use an unprofessional username

The username you employ for video interviews should be professional – not cutesy or inappropriate – and clearly relevant to your real name.

5. DO: be patient

Even if you've made sure your technology functions properly, you may still encounter technical difficulties, especially if the interviewer is not accustomed to making video calls. Being patient while problems are resolved can make a good impression. Marinelli recalls a video interview during which the job candidate stayed calm and friendly despite the fact that the interviewer's computer had sound trouble

"I recommended him based on his ability to do the job, but also his flexibility and good-natured response to the situation," (s)he says. "He got the role."

The Secret to Phone Interview Success

Phone interviews share some of the same pitfalls as video interviews. It's just as important to take these interviews seriously, eliminate distractions and use a landline instead of a cellphone to ensure there's a strong connection.

But there's one additional factor to consider with a phone interview. You can't rely on body language to convey your meaning, so pay special attention to the tone of your voice. You should enunciate clearly, speak slightly slower than usual, and use tone and language to make points you might typically make with hand gestures or facial expressions.

How to Recover From an Interview Mistake

When your interviewer asked a tough question that caught you off guard, you started to ramble. Now (s)he looks baffled, or worse, annoyed.

This situation may seem unsalvageable, but it's actually an opportunity to "demonstrate your communication skills," Marinelli says. Here's what to do if you make a mistake while answering an interview question:

1. Pause

If you can tell you're headed in the wrong direction, don't stumble blindly ahead. Stop, take a deep breath and compose yourself.

2. Acknowledge the mistake

There are some phrases you can use to show you're perceptive and able to self-correct:

"I'm not sure I understood your question, could you please rephrase it?"

"Do you need more information about that?

"Would it be helpful if I explain that a different way?"

3. Pivot

Then, start over. If you don't know the right answer, be honest rather than bluff: "I don't know the answer, and I don't currently know enough about the topic to guess, but this is how I would gather more information." Or, acknowledge your limited understanding and then weigh in: "I'm not entirely sure, but based on what I do know, here are a few ideas."

If you really need to change the topic quickly, ask the interviewer a question to take yourself out of the spotlight.

You can also reassure the interviewer by inviting her to probe more deeply into the topic causing her concern. Cole recommends these phrases:

"I want you to know everything about me so you can make the best decision. What else can I tell you?"

"From my perspective, I'm a great fit for this job. What's your take?"

Mistakes to Avoid After the Interview

The interview doesn't end when you leave the room. How you follow up on the conversation affects the lasting impression you leave on the hiring team, which is just as important as the first impression.

Here are the mistakes to avoid making after the interview:

1. Failing to send a timely thank you note

It's polite – and strategically important – to send a thank-you note to the people who interviewed you. Don't wait too long, and choose email over a physical letter if you suspect the mail may take a few days to arrive.

"Some people like to do it in writing, but with how quickly things move, I always advise an email right away the next day," Marinelli says. "By waiting a few days or a week, you've really lost your opportunity at that point to make a great impression."

2. Sending a formulaic thank-you note

Your thank-you note is another opportunity to make a good impression. It's a chance to demonstrate enthusiasm and follow up on the conversation in a meaningful way by referring to something specific you talked about. This means you shouldn't write it in advance or hand it to the receptionist on your way out the door.

3. Sending a thank-you gift

This is just weird. Don't do it. There's no need to try to bribe the company.

4. Harassing the hiring manager

After you send a thank-you note, resist the temptation to contact the company again unless asked. If a few weeks pass, it's appropriate to check in with a polite email.

Signs the Interview Didn't Go Well

Sometimes, you walk out of an office confident that you nailed the job interview. Other times, you suspect the opposite. Here are sure signs you didn't impress the hiring manager:

1. An in-person interview ends in 15 minutes

If the interviewer cuts you off early during an in-person meeting, "that's a huge red flag" that (s)he is not interested in you as a job candidate, Cole says.

2. The interviewer doesn't ask you to share details and doesn't respond to your success stories

During a good job interview, "the idea is to have a real conversation and talk about real issues and play on the answers you're getting from each other," Marinelli says. If the interviewer displays little interest in engaging with your stories or finding out more about your experiences, (s)he's probably not interested in hiring you.

3. The interviewer is distracted

Doodling, fidgeting and staring out the window are signs that the interview is just not that interested, Cole says.

4. The interviewer doesn't smile

No matter how serious your interviewer's personality, if (s)he is impressed with you, (s)he'll likely let slip a small smile.

5. "We have a lot of interviews this week."

If you hear this phrase, the interviewer may be gently preparing you for disappointment by indicating that the odds are not in your favour.

How should you handle job interview rejection? As Taylor Swift advises: Shake it off. Bombing a job interview happens to everyone. Take the experience in stride and use it as a learning opportunity. See more advice about handling rejection after a job interview.