November Discussion: Top 10 Interviewing Mistakes

[Michaela]

I’ve seen it plenty of times where a good candidate will come in,
fully qualified to do the job well but they can’t make it past the
interview.

Convincing the hiring authority that you’re the best person for the
job is not necessarily easy. We’ve all made mistakes in an
interview. Some of these mistakes may have been the deciding factor
in your opportunity to land a job. The old cliché about having one
chance to make a first impression is particularly true in an
interview. Before you convince yourself that you’ll never have what
it takes, the following is a list of 10 interviewing mistakes that I
have personally witnessed while sitting in on interviews and how to
avoid them.

1) Making inappropriate jokes: Leave this one to the paid comics.
Jokes are usually funny because they play with language and require
some interpretation. Unless you know your audience there is no way to
guarantee that your joke won’t offend someone. Although you may be
funny in real life, it is always best to keep the interview
professional.
2) Chewing gum during the interview: Yes you want to have fresh
breath and keep your throat from getting dry but chewing gum is a
distraction and not a good one.
3) Going to the interview in jeans: I’m not saying it has to be a
three piece suit but you should dress for the job you want to do.
Even if you know the agency you’re interviewing at has a casual dress
code, try to wear something career-minded during the interview.
4) Arriving late: Accidents happen. So does traffic. Make sure you
give yourself a ten minute window when going to an interview. Take
into consideration that you’re probably not the only one interviewing
for the job so if you arrive late it not only looks bad but it cuts
into your interviewing time. When scheduling your interview, get an
emergency contact number so you can at least call ahead if you’re
running late.
5) Lying about your education and/or experience: Maybe the job is
requiring a bachelor’s degree and you’re just two credits away, so
what the heck, you put that you already have your degree. No matter
if your intentions are to explain in the interview or you’re just
hoping they won’t dig into it, lying is never okay. If they find out,
not only could your reputation be ruined, but is lying usually grounds
for dismissal.
6) Defamation of your current boss/agency: They may ask you in the
interview why you want leave your current job to pursue the one you’re
applying for but that is no reason to speak poorly of your current
boss. Never underestimate how small this world is, one of the panel
members could know your current boss. Also, it does not put you in a
good light. Negative energy usually doesn’t take people very far.
Instead, talk about new opportunities and how your pursuit of a new
position is about personal growth. The same goes for speaking poorly
of your current agency. It may not be about a specific person, but
the end result is the same.
7) Not asking questions when the interview is finished: This one may
not make or break your interview but it’s good practice. Before the
interview, start writing down questions that you have about the
position. Take them with you to the interview. Remember, an
interview is (or should be) a two-way street. Make sure the questions
you have are answered.
8) Not researching the position: The most qualified people I have
ever seen interview for a job are the ones who have researched the
job, the agency’s mission, how that job fits into that, the culture of
the agency and the overall impact the work of the position has. Seem
like a lot of stuff to know? It is, but if you can figure all of that
out, then you will be able to prove why, in every instance, you are
the best person for the job. For this one, don’t just assume that
everything is in the job announcement. Call the recruiter, ask
questions. Google the subject/job title. Look up the agency mission
and an organizational chart to see where the position falls within
that mission. You can never know too much about a job.
9) Assuming you understand a question: If you don’t understand what
the question is asking, get clarification. Don’t just take a stab in
the dark and hope you answer the question. Clarifying what the
question really is assures that you can correctly answer it to the
best of your knowledge. You also demonstrate to the panel that your
communication skills are both clear and concise.
10) Not asking for the job: If you believe the job you’re
interviewing for is one you really want, ask for it. Tell the panel
how you “fit” the position. I can count on one hand the number of
people I have actually heard ask for a position. What I can’t even
begin to count is the number of times a hiring panel has deliberated
about offering a position to someone because they might be “too
qualified” or they’re wondering if they’re really interested.

[aashley...@gmail.com]

Pretty good advice, I think I knew most of them already but this only
works if you can get an interview...

[aashley...@gmail.com]

Pretty good advice, I think I knew most of them already but this only
works if you can get an interview...

On Oct 27, 8:38 am, Michaela <fav...@wsdot.wa.gov> wrote:

[Michaela]

Hi Ashley,

It's true, a lot of these mistakes seem self explanatory, but it's
easy to forget things when nervousness sets in. These are also all
things that I have personally seen in an interview.

If you're looking for helpful hints on how to better your resume and
letter of interest, check out a previous discussion on our page titled
"Letters of Interest: what's the big deal?". If you have any specific
questions or would like assistance, feel free to email me at
fav...@wsdot.wa.gov and I can work directly with you.

Michaela

On Oct 30, 3:48 pm, "aashleyjack...@gmail.com"

> > qualified” or they’re wondering if they’re really interested.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -