An interview is like a first date. You have to leave all your negative baggage at home and concentrate on impressing the person sitting opposite you. Everybody has a past, both negative and positive, but there is a time and a place to let it show. To make sure you don’t send your hiring manager running for the hills, here are our top tips on how not to scare them off in an interview.
You don’t have a filter
Think before you speak? There may have been things about your old boss or previous job that irritated you beyond all reason. There may have been certain company ethics that you simply couldn’t get on board with. But you wouldn’t go on a first date and complain about your ex. Would you? Often hiring managers will try to trick you into dishing the dirt, to see if you’ll crack. Avoid it at all costs. It looks unprofessional and tacky. A huge no-no for an interview.
Stink of desperation
Unemployment can feel lonely and depressing and sometimes you don’t feel like you have the luxury to chase your dream job. There are bills that need to be paid and responsibilities to account for. In these circumstances it can feel like any job will do. Hey, it’s a totally understandable situation, but not for the interview.
The smell of desperation is so off-putting for hiring managers. Revamp your resume and kick-start your networking efforts to make sure you’re bringing in as many opportunities as possible. This way you will feel more relaxed going into an interview. The pressure is off because there are other options on the menu. If this is the first interview you’ve had in a while and there are no more on the horizon remember that you’ve made it this far. The already like you because they’ve invited you for an interview. Take the pressure off and relax. This interview is just as much to see if YOU like them too. This way the ball is in your court.
You take questions too literally
So many interview questions have subliminal meaning. When a hiring manager is asking you about yourself, they don’t want to hear about your family and your 4 dogs. They want to know what aspects of your past experience is relevant to this role. Don’t take questions too literally. Take a second to consider what they’re really asking.
Your balance is off
There should be a balance between how much you talk vs. how much the interviewer is talking. Are you saying too little or too much. The ideal ratio is something in the region of 60/40 or 70/30 with you contributing more to the conversation. Never respond with one word answers. Always elaborate with an example or anecdotes to demonstrate your answer. For example: “Do you work well in a team?” Your answer should be “Yes, for example in my past job I worked with a team on this project and together we achieved these results. At the other end of the spectrum avoid long rambling answers. Stick to the point. Be strategic with what you say.
Interviews are a test so you will be judged on what you do or don’t say. Don’t panic and rush or speak nonsensically to fill the silence. With the right about of research and preparation you will know exactly what to say and how to act. Happy job hunting.