As interviews are foundational to getting your foot in the door, it is crucial to avoid mistakes to make a great first impression!
Apart from having a stellar resume, you must prepare to leave a great impression in an interview, as your performance helps the recruiter gauge your value and personality.
To help you bag your dream job and breeze through your interviews in 2023, we discuss, in this article, 6 mistakes to avoid in an interview in the new year.
Let’s dive in!
1. Not researching the company before the interview
Research is the key to a job interview; the biggest mistake you can make is to skip this step.
Knowing about a company’s vision, mission, work culture, and more can help you prepare better and provide insight into the company before you go for the interview.
Moreover, researching a company will help you answer interview questions effectively and give you direction regarding the conversation, ideas, and more.
Here are a few ways in which you can research a company:
- Explore the social media handles of the organization
- Read company reviews, ratings, and interview experiences on AmbitionBox
- Look up news and updates about the company on the internet
- Check professional networking sites
- Connect with people in your network who are or were employed by the company where you are interviewing
2. Not reaching the interview venue 15 minutes before the fixed time
As time management is a valued skill, being late during an interview reflects poorly on your work etiquette and time management. Whether it is an online or in-person interview, you must ensure you are on time.
Keeping in mind the importance of first impressions, you should try to reach the interview location 15 minutes early and avoid any potential hassle. Here’s how you can do it:
- Plan your travel and commute to the interview location in advance. Consider factors like traffic, parking, security, etc., that may increase travel time.
- On the day, your sole focus should be on the interview. Try not to schedule any other time-consuming activities before the same.
- If there are unforeseeable external circumstances on the day of the interview (such as a traffic jam or other factors), notify the recruiter and make alternate arrangements. Be truthful and avoid making excuses.
- Lastly, if an emergency pops up and you think you will be too late for the interview or unable to attend that day, you should contact the recruiter to reschedule
3. Not preparing to impress
As we talk about first impressions, several things go into ensuring a great professional image during an interview. While preparing for an interview, remember these things:
1. Dressing appropriately
Being well-prepared is not enough for an interview; you must also be well-presented, and the first step towards it is to dress professionally and confidently.
You should dress appropriately for your role in the company and avoid wearing anything casual or semi-casual.
Tip: Read more about what to wear to interview in an interview in our article Interview dress code for male and female
2. Maintaining poor body language
During the interview, you should be alert, focused, and sitting upright in your chair. If you appear uninterested, it may get interpreted as unfriendliness or arrogance.
In an interview, good body language will go a long way. Some examples of poor body language are:
- Fidgeting with your phone
- Not smiling while answering
- Not maintaining eye contact
- Slouching while sitting
3. Give a firm handshake
You should shake hands with the interviewer at the beginning and end of the interview. Make sure that your handshake is secure, firm, and confident.
4. Not preparing how to answer interview questions:
Interviews are always nerve-racking, so prepare as much as possible to put your best foot forward! As you know standard interview questions, you should always prepare to answer them before the interview.
Answering these questions confidently will demonstrate your readiness and interest! A positive response from the recruiter will, in turn, build your confidence and help you ace the interview!
5. Speaking ill of past employers:
If any questions about your previous work surface during an interview, try to answer positively. In case you have had a bad experience with an employer, we suggest you answer diplomatically!
An interview is not the place for a rant. So, try to keep the conversation positive. Speaking negatively about previous employers or coworkers will reflect poorly on you as an employee.
Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of your experience, concentrate on your efforts to overcome those challenges. Whatever you do, maintain a productive conversation at all times!
6. Not asking the recruiter any questions
As the interview is about to end, the recruiter will ask you if you have any questions for them.
This part is the perfect opportunity to show the recruiter your interest in the role, the company, and your research. It is also a great opportunity to gather insights about the company’s work culture, expectations, and potential team.
Not having any questions for the recruiter at the end of your interview indicates a lack of research, and preparation and showcases a lack of interest. Here's how to do it:
- Research your role and the company well while preparing for the interview
- Prepare some questions based on your research. These could be about your role, the company’s work culture, or any queries, among other things
- If the recruiter has already answered a prepared question, do not ask it again
- Do not ask any personal or close-ended questions. You want to keep an ongoing conversation during this last step and not halt it with a yes/no question
To find questions you can ask the recruiters, read the article Do You Have Any Questions for Me?
All the best!
