Five Easy Ways To Mess Up Your Interview

Posted by:    Darlene Duncan, CWDP, JSS
                   Training Coordinator

Here are five of the most common mistakes interviewees make:

1.    Arriving late – employers figure if you can’t get to the interview on time you probably won’t get to work on time.

2.    Failing to research the company – virtually every interviewer is going to ask you, “Why do you want to work for us?” You need a good answer. If you don’t know anything about the company, coming up with a good answer is going to be very difficult.

3.    Lying about your experience or education – sooner or later the truth will come out and most likely lead to you being fired.

4.    Shaking hands too weakly or too firmly – no one wants a limp fish and by the same token, no one wants their hand crushed. In addition, clasping the other person’s hand with both of yours could be considered a power play.

5.    Wearing sunglasses – we live in Florida, for cryin’ out loud, everyone wears sunglasses. Yes, however, as you enter the building for your interview, take the sunglasses off and put them away. That does not mean, put them on top of your head or around your neck. It means put them away so they are out of sight.

For more great information on the dos and don’ts of interviewing attend Interviewing Skills for the 21^st Century offered at your local Flagler-Volusia County One-Stop.