8 Interview Mistakes That Will Cost You Your Job (You Never Knew About Number 8!)

Do you feel like you make mistakes during your interviews?

Odds are, you do.

You put in your application with your resume and now you earned the call back for an interview at the company you want to work at. You most likely know the basics of how to ace your job interview to get the job, but what if you make one or more of these mistakes that will cost you the job?

 

 

 

Would you even know that what you’re doing is getting the hiring manager to get ready to delete you from the list of potential candidates?

How long have you been making these interview mistakes? Well, let’s look it over and help you correct these mistakes.

1. Over Sharing About Your Job Loss
   

   Whoa, slow down there. If you need to explain why you lost your previous job in more than one sentence you are over sharing. When you over share it sounds like you’re lying. Get it down to one concise and simply sentence. For example, “My job at XY Company no longer fit my career goals so it was time to move on”. Keep it simple, honest and positive.

SEE ALSO: Most Common Interview Questions: You Won’t Believe The Last One

2. Not Relaxing and Being Yourself

   No one wants to hire a robot to work for them, well, not if they’re looking for a human employee. Yes, a job interview is a serious meeting between a hiring manager or recruiter and a potential employee-you. However, that doesn’t mean you have to be mechanical in your responses. Have a conversation with the person. Throw in a little humor. Be open and warm. Show your personality. Not doing this will make you seem cold and distant. Being yourself and relaxing will show the hiring manager you’re a real person, and they will remember you for that.
   

3. Seeming Bored
   

   Sometimes hiring managers are sitting back wondering, is this person genuinely interested in this job opportunity or not? You’re there for the interview, isn’t that enough? No! Show some enthusiasm and interest in the job. Just being there isn’t enough. You have to show through your appearance (dressed well, open gestures, smiling, making eye contact) and your conversation (tone of your voice, questions about the job, what you’re saying) that you are excited about the opportunity of working for them.

4. Not Knowing Anything About the Company

   If you don’t know anything about the company you’re interviewing for what does that say to the hiring manager? It says you don’t care. Show that you do care by researching the company before you apply and before your interview. Learn everything you can about them. It’s disrespectful not to.
   

5. Concentrating on Yourself and What You Want too Much
   

   This is definitely not the time to be selfish. Some candidates will ask how much they can make, what hours/days they would work, when they would have to come in, and on and on. What about the company? You have to put most of the focus on them and what you can do for the company you’re interviewing for. Ask a few questions for yourself, but keep it to a minimum. Your answers are probably in the job description.
   

6. Not Setting Yourself Apart from Your Competition
   

   If you don’t set yourself apart you look like every other candidate that is going in for an interview. So, how do you go above and beyond? Be prepared. Know the company. Ask a few questions. Relax and be yourself. Show proof of how you’ve helped your previous employers (sales increase, saving the company money, etc.). skills, experience, education will set you apart from the others?
   

7. Trying to be Everything
   

   You can’t do everything and be everything. Hiring managers want specialists, not generalists. They want to hire someone that’s mastered their trade, not someone who is okay at a lot of things. Show your specialties in your resume and during your job interview. What are your specialties that your competitors may not have?

8. Not Asking for the Job!
   

   That’s right, you have to ask! This goes with showing interest and enthusiasm. Hiring managers want to hear that you are still interested in the job when the interview is over. You could say, for example, “I think we’d work well together and I could do a lot for this company. Do you need anything else from me? What is the next step?” Ask for the job in the interview or someone else will.

Don’t Forget the Basics Either. Here are some to Keep in Mind:

• Smile
• Make eye contact
• Dress up and dress well
• Have good posture
• Don’t cross your arms
• Avoid fidgeting a lot
• Speak clearly and confidently
• Avoid touching your hair and/or face
• Have a strong handshake

Most importantly, relax and be yourself. Show off your strengths, skills, experience and educations as it pertains to the job opportunity. Don’t be afraid to show some excitement, and finally, ask for the job!