5 Interviewing Mistakes That Make You Look Dumb (by Joe Turner)
Don’t be one to say, “if I could only do it over”, after your next interview. It’s not uncommon to lose sleep over an upcoming interview or to fret over your performance afterwards. It’s something else though, to lose a shot at a great opportunity after you realize you made a dumb mistake you could have avoided.
Avoid these 5 common interviewing mistakes that can make you look dumb and eliminate you from further consideration.
1. Not Doing Your Research
This is one of the most common complaints hiring managers make today. By not conducting research beforehand, you lack basic knowledge about the company and the job opportunity. You look foolish and you’ll likely be rejected because you’ve given the strong message that you don’t care enough about the company or the opportunity.
Before your interview, find out:
- How large is the company?
- What products/services do they offer?
- Who are their competitors?
- Where do they rank in their market?
- What is their financial situation?
Knowing as much information as possible up front puts you in a power position when you interview. You’re now prepared to talk intelligently about the company, the opportunity and the company’s products, and to use this information to engage in a knowledgeable conversation with your interviewer.
To read the rest of this article, please click here: 5 Interviewing Mistakes That Make You Look Dumb
January 30th, 2008 at 12:23 am
I once read that if you have a good relationship with the interviewer and don’t get the job it is good to ask them for feedback on how you went and how your skills could be improved. I tried this once and got no response, do you think this could work or are people just too busy to care.
www.jobxblogs.com.au
February 4th, 2008 at 5:33 am
Mon, I believe good relationship with the interviewer is one of added value. But I don’t think it’s essential. Prepare for your interview and express how you will value to the company if they employed you. This will be the most important thing.
February 15th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
All good points.
Low energy level is another less than impressive behavior we have seen from job seekers in the interview.
The job candidate who appears to be bored or whose body language exhibits the “I can’t be bothered” posture leaves recruiters unimpressed.
As a job seeker you should know what time of the day is best for you. Are you are a morning person or do you come alive in the afternoon?
If you have a choice about your interview time, and in many cases you do, pick a time when your energy level is high.
Marcia Robinson moderates 6 career blogs for BullsEyeResumes.com