Avoid These 5 Mistakes in Your Next Job Interview

Bad Job InterviewAs a job candidate, the interview is your place to shine. The company is already interested in your skills or they wouldn’t have called you in. Now, they are looking to see if you are a personal match for the company environment and current team. It is critical at this time to put your best foot forward. Here are some mistakes that job seekers make that end up costing them a job offer.

They don’t do their homework.

You might be surprised how many job seekers enter an interview and ask, “What does your company do?” The single most important thing you can do when you schedule an interview is your homework. Research the company on their website, on LinkedIn and any stories in the news. This will give you a good base of knowledge before you talk with them, and it will allow you to customize your skills and accomplishments to their needs.

They come across as arrogant.

There is a huge difference between confidence and arrogance, but the line that separates the two is thin. It is okay to share your successes and accomplishments. In fact, that is highly desirable. But do not cross the line into arrogance. This will be an immediate deal breaker for the interviewer, and they won’t take you seriously as a candidate. Strike the right balance, and you’ll be on the right track.

They look at their phone.

Another mistake job seekers make in their interviews seems like such a common sense issue. They leave their phone on and, even worse, check it for texts or calls throughout the interview. Since the inception of cell phones, receiving communications on the go has really changed the way interact with one other. But you would do yourself a great disservice by interacting with your phone and not your interviewer at this crucial meeting.

They don’t ask questions.

In an interview, it is likely that the hiring manager will ask you if you have any questions. The worst thing you can say is no. In fact, if you’ve waited to be asked if you have any questions then you may have already missed your opportunity. Treat an interview like a conversation. Answer questions but also ask them as they pop into your head. Just don’t interrupt the interviewer.

They criticize others.

Finally, never use your interview as a personal soapbox to complain about your former employer, bosses or co-workers. Most importantly, don’t answer a question about why you left by criticizing your previous experience. This will give the potential employer a bad impression of you and they will, rightfully, believe that you may have the same attitude working for their organization.

It’s personal service from our tenured recruiters that makes CornerStone Staffing stand out from the rest of the staffing agencies in Texas. Take the next step in your career and contact CornerStone Staffing today to work with a leader in staffing and recruiting.

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