Things you could be doing wrong at the job interview stage

She suggests keeping in mind that a potential employer is interested in how you can help them, and you want to show that throughout the process, including after the interview, with a thank-you letter.

“The most important thing is to understand that you’re going to hire the person who’s ready, interested and can articulate why they’re the best person for the job,” Haller said.

Below are some things you might be doing wrong at the interview stage.

Don’t focus on the interviewer

A Glassdoor blog post said people shouldn’t be looking at their phones. “Answering calls, texting, or even looking to see who’s calling during an interview is unprofessional and shows your interviewer that you’re not paying attention,” the post said.

Instead, people should look at the interviewer. Haller said interviewees should practice eye contact, especially if they’re doing a virtual interview and aren’t used to speaking that way. “If I’m in a video interviewing someone and they’re not looking at me, that’s a defeat,” she said.

An Indeed post by career coach Jamie Birt also highlighted avoiding eye contact or even looking down as things to watch out for, as interviewers “might misinterpret this as a sign of weakness or lie”. Birt suggested pretending the interview is a conversation with a friend.

Do not arrive at the interview at a reasonable time

Haller said it’s not good to be at an interview too early. “Because then they will interpret that you have no sense of time and what is appropriate,” she said.

That doesn’t mean you want to wait until the last minute to get to the interview.

“I recommend, if it’s in person, you might as well get there and leave plenty of time early,” Haller said. “Don’t go to the office yet. Get ready. Go upstairs or inside or wherever the interview is happening about five minutes before your interview. Five to 10 minutes is absolutely fine.”

She said job applicants shouldn’t be late for virtual calls either, so practice using virtual chat technology before the interview to avoid technical difficulties.

“What you do during an interview tells that person what you’re going to be like to work,” Haller said. “So if you’re late for an interview, they already think you’re going to be late for work. Why would I hire you? If you don’t have a proper excuse and make that proper phone call, things happen.”

Not being polite to people other than the interviewer

Haller notes that the conversation the candidate has with the front desk person is actually part of the interview.

“As a hiring manager for many years and hired all the office staff and sales people, I would always go back to the receptionist and say, ‘How was it when this person came in?’ And if that person wasn’t nice or rude to my receptionist, that was as much a part of the interview as what she said to me,” she said.

Birt’s Indeed post similarly noted that it’s not rude. “The interviewer will likely ask employees you’ve met during your time at the company about their impression of you,” the Indeed post says. “Instead of being pushy, greet everyone you meet during your interview with kindness and a smile.”

Your answers to common interview questions are not great

A common question concerns a job candidate’s weaknesses. Haller said he doesn’t think “people are really asking for your weakness. What they are asking is that you are self-aware and know what you need to work on and compensate for? That’s what they really want to know.”

In response to questions about why you want the job, Haller said, “People don’t care what you want.” It’s more about your knowledge of the company.

“They want to know you’re interested in working for them, but they don’t care if it’s a great first job for you or any other reasons that really don’t matter why they would hire you,” Haller said.

Haller said that for this question, job seekers should demonstrate that they took the time to research the employer, including what was said in the news. Haller finds that people can express an interest in being part of the employer’s mission and team.

“Every answer in an interview should be about why you’re the best person for the job, period,” Haller said.

Your understanding of the company during the interview could also be problematic.

“If I’m interviewing someone and they don’t even know what my company does, or what our mission is, or anything about us, that’s a big red flag,” Haller said.

Don’t prepare answers about skills or other things the employer is looking for

With the popularity of skills-based hiring, you may want to show off your skills during the interview, even if you aren’t asked about them directly.

If teamwork is important in the job posting, Haller said to include that in a story you tell during the interview.

Birt Indeed’s post did say to avoid lying about skills and stuff during the interview though, and not to be arrogant.

“Showing pride can make interviewers feel like you’ve spoken honestly,” Birt said. “Instead, discuss your skills and accomplishments in relation to how they can help the company, and in a simple, non-bragging manner.”

Not being a professional

Haller said the background to your virtual call with an employer should be business-friendly. “You don’t want to have the messy bed in the background while you’re on an interview,” Haller said.

Appropriate clothing can also be important. Haller said to look on LinkedIn to see what the dress code is for that employer.

“Some companies might expect you to wear something more formal, or if you’re interviewing for an advertising agency, it might be less formal,” Haller said.

Professionalism goes beyond what the background shows in a virtual call and what a job seeker wears. The Glassdoor post warned about how you talk about the past. “Talking negatively about people you once worked with is unprofessional, but it makes the interviewer wonder if you’ll also talk negatively about them someday in the future,” the blog says.

That doesn’t mean ignoring your past experience during an interview. The Glassdoor post said the interviewee could discuss how to use what they learned to benefit the new employer.

He doesn’t ask good questions

In addition to being prepared to answer questions, Haller emphasized how interviewees need to ask good questions at the end.

“For really smart candidates, they’ll say something like, ‘What else can I share with you so you know I’m the best candidate for the job?’ or, ‘What else could I elaborate on so you know I can do a great job for your team?'” Haller said.

These types of questions have a purpose before an interview ends.

“You want to see if you can overcome any objections, if there’s anything you haven’t talked about that you want to show, your interests in office and ask about next steps,” Haller said. “Candidates who don’t do that miss out on a lot of opportunities.”

Michael Doolin, CEO of Clover HR, said in an essay for Business Insider: “If I were lucky enough to be offered this position, what advice would you give me getting started?” and “How would I measure up in this job?” there are two good questions to ask.

“I tell anyone who asks me for interview advice to ask those two questions,” Doolin said. “But more importantly, prepare your own answers for their response: Be ready to give examples of how you would do the job, how you like to be measured on the job, and how well you match the answers they give . This is another thing. the opportunity to promote your value.”

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