30 May 2023
There are some things you always have to remember when you're heading into an interview, and some things you can't afford to get wrong. Here are some of the most common issues we hear about, and sometimes too regularly:
1. Forgetting it’s a two-way conversation
Interviews are stressful enough without having to think of extra things to say, but remember that it's a conversation, not a quiz. You are allowed to ask questions too, and you'll make a positive impression on the interviewer if you do. This is something that is easy to forget in the heat of the moment but if you can ask some good questions you will be doing yourself a favour.
2. “I’m a Perfectionist”
When an interviewer asks what your weaknesses are, they are looking to see how you deal with the question rather than what your actual weakness is. Saying that you are a perfectionist feels like you are dodging the question, rather than giving them what they are looking for. Tell them about a skill you would like to improve on and how you plan on improving it.
3. Having No Questions Prepared
We all know that an interview is going to end with the interviewer saying “have you got any questions?”. The biggest mistake you can make is to say no. Prepare at least five questions before you go for your interview as the interviewer may have answered some of them already during your discussion; this way you have back up questions.
4. Not Researching Yourself
Taking the time before an interview to write down all your achievements and experiences can help remind you of things you might have forgotten. Interviewers tend to ask you about yourself: having written this list you will be able to remember things much more clearly. It is easy to let your mind go blank during times of stress like job interviews so having a few notes will stand you in good stead, as long as you don’t rigidly stick to it and read it out to them.
5. Keeping your mobile phone on
As glued to our phones as we are, there are times and places for them to be left on - an interview situation is not one of them. It shows a clear lack of judgement and professionalism on your part. The only time this would be acceptable would be if someone close to you had been rushed to hospital and you were waiting to hear more about their condition. In such cases though, you should really ask to reschedule the interview as you are unlikely to do as well as you would otherwise.
6. Waiting for a response after the interview
You want them to remember you for all the right reasons so ending your interview with “I look forward to hearing from you soon” gives a good impression. Don’t let them forget you: try and make contact with your interviewer if you haven’t heard anything after a few days. Decisions are typically made very quickly, even if it takes a while for them to be communicated.
