Your interview has made it through the initial screenings, and you’ve landed the interview. Congratulations! But this part of the process can be nerve-wracking as well as exciting. The key to moving on the next stage of the process is in knowing what to avoid and what to do during the interview itself. Here are a few of the do’s and don’ts for interviews that will help you make a great impression, and land the job you’re looking for.
Do’s:
Have Good Body Language
This can go miles during an interview. Everyone is nervous during an interview but acting out that nervousness could be a sign of weakness and can be off-putting.
Interviewers want somebody who is confident but not arrogant. Try to avoid any kind of fidgeting and excess movement.
Be Unique
Remember that the point of the interview is to stand out amongst those who are selected. Keeping in mind that a majority of the competition is within similar skill set, being unique in answering questions and presentation will help a candidate stand out. Try to not go overboard for that being too unique could land the candidate as being eccentric and a maverick.
Ask Questions
This is imperative to the interview process. Candidates are thrown dozens of questions ranging from the technical to the personal. Asking questions about the position and the company will show general interest and is engaging. Even if the answers have already been discovered through the process of research or the interview itself, ask anyway.
Don’ts:
Talk Too Much
It’s really easy to ramble on about a previous job. This is especially true if the candidate excelled at that particular job. Keep answers brief but informative.
Talking too much is a sign of nervousness but it also can offer much information that could have waited for another time. Save some material for the next interview.
Be Ill Prepared
There’s simply no excuse for poor preparation of an interview. It’s important to do a bit of research about the company in which a candidate is applying for. Candidates should take the time to look into the company itself and its culture. Even if that culture or industry isn’t in the candidate’s strong suit, having the information available will allow the candidate to adapt.
Be Dishonest
Being dishonest on the resume will surely shine through in the interview and beyond. There’s a critical difference between using exciting words to accentuate a candidate’s resume and outright putting false information. In the interview candidates will be asked to back that information up. Providing false or embellished information that shows forth later will not suit the candidate well as it is grounds for termination.
Be Negative
There are going to be baited questions that during the interview that will allow a candidate to vent about a previous job or allow themselves to harshly criticize themselves. The reactions to these questions are deal-breakers with most interviewers. Maintain a positive tone and acknowledge negatives but turn them around into positives and show them in a light that is an opportunity for growth and enrichment.
Keeping a sharp eye on these traits can mean the difference between being short listed as a candidate for the job, and being passed over for another candidate. For more interview advice, and suggestions on how to answer tough interview questions, LiveCareer’s Interview Videos section is a great resource. And to write an interview-worthy resume, check out Resume Builder today.
Additional Resources for Jobseekers:
- Guide to Job Interviewing Resources and Tools
- How to Write a Resume: Expert Answers 19 Common Questions
- LiveCareer Free Resume Builder
- 13 Best Resume Designs of 2018
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