Interviewing – What NOT To Do

The interview process is filled with obstacles that will prevent even the most qualified candidate from getting the job.  I am going to discuss what I consider to be the most common mistakes based on 5000+ phone and face to face interviews that I have conducted over the years.

Research – Never go into an interview or conversation without previously having done some research on the individual and the company you are speaking with.  That could be as simple as looking at their LinkedIn profile or doing a Google search.  Use that research to help develop five strong questions that convey your knowledge of your profession while also providing you with valuable insight to how the company operates and issues that they are currently experiencing.

Attitude Is Everything

I am sure you have heard that from numerous people and you have probably even said it a few times.  So if we all know it, then why are so many of us having trouble following it?  Over the course of the past few months I have spoken with a number of people whose attitude would suggest they have given up on their job search.  Being able to overcome the constant rejection you face in your job search can be extremely difficult, however it is a requirement for success! Success breeds success and employers want to be associated with successful people.

The process of searching for a new career seems to be filled with rejection and disappointment at every turn.  You apply online for the job that perfectly matches your experience and yet you never hear back from anyone.  Your networking calls to your target companies don’t get returned.  Handling all of this rejection can easily wear down even the most positive of people.  So how do you maintain a positive attitude when everything around you seems negative?

Interviewing Is Not My Favorite Activity

Many people find interviewing to be very stressful.  Typically it is because they don’t know what to expect or understand how to give the interviewer the information they are looking for in the format that is desired.  Most companies have moved to a behavioral style of interviewing that focuses on understanding how you have handled specific situations.  The implication being that the best indicator of how you will handle a specific situation in the future is how you have handled them in the past.  So how do you convey all of this information about you in a format that makes sense?

The first step in preparing for an interview, whether in person or over the phone is writing out your top 5-7 accomplishments.  Each should cover at least a half page. Anything less and you are not thoroughly considering all of the appropriate details to the accomplishment.  I tell my clients that all companies, regardless of industry, have the same problems.  If you can describe how you have solved those problems at one company, the implication is that you will be able to do the same thing for the company you are interviewing with.  This seemingly small, but significant step of preparation will differentiate you from the other candidates.

The first step in the interview process is typically a phone interview.  The phone interview is now a way for employers to avoid the time and expense of bringing in additional candidates.  The added emphasis on screening requires better preparation in the form of researching the company and the interviewer.  Make sure to ask enough detailed questions so that you have a very good understanding of the issues you would face in the position.  Selling to those needs will significantly set you apart from the rest of your competition.