Top 11 Interview Blunders That Can Cost You the Job: Expert Tips to Avoid Them

Job interviews are nerve-wracking, even for the most confident job seekers. After all, you want to impress the interviewer and secure the position. Unfortunately, many people make interview blunders that prevent them from getting hired. In this blog, we'll take a look at eleven interview blunders that are common among job seekers and explain why they can be so detrimental to your chances of landing a job.

1. Arriving late

The first impression is the most important one, and arriving late to an interview is a surefire way to make a bad one. It suggests that you are unreliable, disorganized, or simply don't care enough about the job to make an effort to arrive on time. In some cases, arriving late might even result in your interview being canceled altogether.

2. Dressing inappropriately

What you wear to an interview can have a significant impact on how you are perceived by the interviewer. Dressing too casually or too formally can give off the wrong impression. Always make sure you know the dress code for the company or industry you are interviewing for and dress accordingly.

3. Failing to research the company

One of the most important things you can do before an interview is to research the company you are interviewing with. Failing to do so suggests that you are not genuinely interested in the position or the company. You should have a good understanding of the company's mission, values, and culture, as well as any recent news or developments that may be relevant.

4. Not knowing your own resume

Your resume is your chance to showcase your skills, experience, and achievements. But if you don't know it inside and out, you won't be able to answer questions about it confidently. Make sure you can explain any gaps in your employment history, discuss your strengths and weaknesses, and provide specific examples of your accomplishments.

5. Rambling or going off-topic

Interviews are typically structured with specific questions in mind. If you go off-topic or ramble on for too long, it can be a sign that you are not focused or don't have a clear understanding of the question. Keep your answers concise and relevant to the question at hand.

6. Being too negative

While it's important to be honest about your experience and skills, being too negative can be a major turn-off for interviewers. Don't badmouth former employers or colleagues, and don't focus too much on your weaknesses. Instead, focus on your strengths and how you can add value to the company.

7. Not asking questions

At the end of the interview, the interviewer will likely ask if you have any questions. Failing to ask questions suggests that you are not genuinely interested in the position or the company. Ask thoughtful questions about the company's culture, the team you will be working with, and the opportunities for growth and development.

8. Talking too much or interrupting

It's important to let the interviewer lead the conversation and to give them time to ask their questions. Interrupting or talking too much can be seen as a sign of disrespect or a lack of social skills. Make sure you listen carefully to the interviewer's questions and answer them thoughtfully.

9. Being too vague or generic

When answering interview questions, it's important to be specific and provide examples. Being too vague or generic can make it seem like you are not fully engaged in the interview or that you don't have the necessary experience or skills. Use specific examples from your past experience to demonstrate your abilities.

10. Being unprepared for behavioral questions

Behavioral questions are designed to assess your past behavior and predict your future performance. These questions typically start with phrases like "Tell me about a time when..." or "Give me an example of..." If you are unprepared for these questions, it can be a major red flag for interviewers. Take some time to review common behavioral questions and prepare examples from your past experiences that demonstrate your skills and abilities.

11. Not following up after the interview

Following up after an interview can help to show your interest in the position and can keep you top of mind for the interviewer. Failing to follow up can make it seem like you are not interested or don't care about the position. Send a thank-you email or note within 24 hours of the interview and reiterate your interest in the position.

So, why do these interview blunders prevent good people from getting hired? The answer is simple: they make it difficult for interviewers to assess your skills, experience, and fit for the company. Interviewers are looking for candidates who are reliable, professional, engaged, and have the necessary skills and experience to excel in the position. When you make interview blunders, it can be difficult for interviewers to determine if you are the right fit for the company.

In addition, interviewers are often looking for candidates who can communicate effectively, think critically, and solve problems. Many of the interview blunders listed above suggest that the candidate may struggle in one or more of these areas. For example, arriving late to an interview suggests that you may struggle with time management or organization. Failing to research the company suggests that you may not be able to think critically or solve problems effectively. Finally, interviewers are looking for candidates who are enthusiastic and engaged. When you make interview blunders, it can suggest that you are not truly interested in the position or the company. Interviewers want to hire candidates who are excited about the opportunity and are eager to contribute to the company's success.

Some Points which Interviewer or Companies should address while taking interviews:

1. Candidates do not get paid for their time. Interviewers do.
2. It is considered OK to waste candidate’s time, but it is not.
3. Interviewers come to interviews unprepared and read resumes in front of candidates.
4. They do not explain what the job is about, what it is like working there, advantages and potentials.
5. They ask questions like “where do you yourself in 5 years”. Instead they should explain where they see their company in 6 months.
6. The process takes too long, too many interviewers, too many rounds of interviews.
7. Interviewers ask the same questions over and over again, making interviews look like interrogation.
8. Consider paying travel expenses. It is not OK to be generous with someone else's money.
9. They are looking for MiniMes. Do not hire people to work for you. Hire people to work with, people you can learn from, and eager to learn from you.
10. They try to find only faults in candidates. Nobody is perfect. They are unwilling to take any risks, looking for that perfect candidate to come along.
11. They don't get back to candidates. It is better to be rejected, than to be left hanging.

Let's stop treating candidates as applicants. Treat them as people, like you want to be treated. Agree ?

In conclusion, if you want to increase your chances of getting hired, it's important to avoid these common interview blunders. Arrive on time, dress appropriately, research the company, know your own resume, stay focused and on topic, stay positive, ask thoughtful questions, listen carefully, provide specific examples, prepare for behavioral questions, and follow up after the interview. By doing so, you can demonstrate your skills, experience, and fit for the company and increase your chances of landing your dream job.

Author

Vaneesh Behl

Passionately writing and working in Tech Space for more than a decade. Let's connect LinkedIn.