Job interviews are tough gigs. I will own up to being the person who tries to rid my palms of sweat for that pre-interview handshake. But the thought of giving a limp fish handshake makes my nerves expel in the form of, you guessed it, more palm sweat. It’s a tragic cycle I am doomed to repeat.
Thankfully, times have moved on, and the firm handshake is no longer the key to success. Although that may seem to free up the space for mistakes, I am here to help by bluntly highlighting the most common interview pitfalls:
Embellishing your work history
It may be tempting to embellish just a little. But once you start, you’ll be twisting truth’s left, right and centre, finding yourself in a maze where you can’t figure out which paths you’ve already gone down.
Twisted paths lead to twisted ankles—don’t do that to yourself.
Downplaying your work history
On the flip side, being negative or dismissive of your achievements isn’t going to gain any points either.
Complaining about past employers, processes or colleagues, even if you’re in the right, does not make the best first impression. Try switching to another, more positive, lens and explore how you’re looking to develop and progress.
Use your job interview to highlight what opportunities you see in the organisation, not to air the reasons you aren’t happy in your current role.
Not doing enough research
Researching the organisation is an underestimated but essential part of interview prep. To start, you’ll want a firm grasp of their ethos, mission statement, strategy and history.
You might be sitting there thinking, ‘this is pointless, no-one needs to be this prepared’. But your future self will be thankful that you took those extra minutes to read something that perhaps none of the other interviewees did.
Not having questions for the panel
I’m sure questions for the panel will pop up during the interview. However I would highly recommend going in with a short pre-prepared list, no matter what. If you struggle to think of questions, or worry that you’re not asking the right ones, following the rule of three is always effective:
- A question about the role
- A question about the organisation
- A question around the panels own views or experience, for instance their favourite thing about working there
Not thinking of your body language
A picture is worth a thousand words. And the picture you’ll present to the interview panel with your arms crossed, brows furrowed and eyes glued to the table… Well, it won’t be a flattering one.
Confidence is key. Employers won’t just be looking for the skillset. They will be drawn to those who are warm, approachable and will easily transition into their team.
Now, although the hiring team will be looking for someone friendly, this is very much a professional friendly they are seeking. Be careful not to stack all your eggs on one side of the scale and overshare.
Oversharing can be an outlet for those itchy nerves. But if you can keep your answers clear and concise, you won’t lose any impact of responses amongst all those additional words. If nerves are something that tends to get to you, try reading this blog from my colleague about overcoming interview anxiety.
I apologise if you’re sitting there slack-jawed thinking, ‘Wow, this girl is really going for the jugular today’. I’m not here to attack, but in all honesty, I don’t think I would be doing my job if you enjoy listening to or reading everything I have to say, and that is fine!
This can be a frustrating and disappointing process. If there is anything in particular you think could have gone a little better, talk to your consultant or your support system. It will give you the chance to let those spiralling thoughts out and explore how to face each setback head on next time.
At the end of the day, the main thing to remember is that an interview is the perfect two-way street to bring out the personality from your application, along with the reality of a job description.
Bonus tip from personal experience: turn that phone off. The last thing you want to do is accidently nudge it off silent mode and take them out of the spell you are currently wowing them with. It is a memory that will plague your nightmares for years to come.
Polly Mortimer is a recruitment consultant specialising in appointing leaders to Awarding Bodies and Skills Organisations. With a drive to help people find their dream job, connect with Polly on LinkedIn or send her an email to chat about the next steps in your career.
