| In this
article, Michelle Y. Drake, President of the Cove Group, helps job seekers avoid flubs that could ruin the job seekers chance to land a job.
You’re convinced that the interview is going great. You remembered to turn on the charm, give a firm handshake, and make good eye contact. Your resume is sensational, and you fielded questions about your experience with aplomb. You breeze out of the office confident that the job is yours.
And then it isn’t.
A post-mortem of the interview reveals that while you were turning on that winning smile and explaining where you see yourself in five years, you were also making 6 Fatal Interview Flubs:
1. Your blasé attitude has the interviewer thinking you’re not taking the interview seriously. It’s an interview not a funeral, but you must delicately balance formality with easy-going confidence. You want to be at ease and still show the interviewer that you’re taking this opportunity seriously.
2. Your attire leans more on the “casual” side of “business casual.” First impressions are based largely on appearance. You want to project the professional that you are. Remember the old saying, “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.”
3. You assume your resume will speak for itself. Many people don’t understand that they have to draw a picture for the interviewer. While it might be readily apparent to YOU why you’re the best choice, it might not be to the interviewer. TELL them why, and back it up with examples and statistics whenever possible.
4. You explained every aspect of your experience. In detail. At length. For the ENTIRE interview. You definitely want to get across that you’re the right candidate for the job, but you don’t want to dominate the conversation. Listening is just as important as speaking.
5. You jumped right into the discussion on salary, bonuses, raise schedules…. Pay is a big factor in whether or not you take a job, but focusing too much on the money is a red-flag to the interviewer. Concentrate on showing them how much value you’re going to bring to the organization, not how much money you want in return.
6. You didn’t mince words when talking about your last boss. Sure, your boss might’ve been a jerk, but your interviewer doesn’t want to hear that. Trash-talking your last boss will make the interviewer question if you’re going to be a positive influence in company environment or someone who operates under a cloud of negativity.
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Michelle Yozzo Drake is the author of the upcoming book, “From the Kitchen to the Corner Office: Uncovering Mom’s Leadership Secrets.” She is the host of the radio show “Workplace Wisdom” on WXCT Talk Radio 990 AM in Hartford, CT, and “Take a Break with Your Career Coach Michelle Yozzo Drake” on WLIU 88.3 FM on Long Island.
For FREE insights and advice from Michelle, sign up for her newsletter at MichelleYDrake.com.
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