Job interviews are always nerve-wracking, no matter how prepared you are. Because of that, job applicants often spend so much time preparing that they forget what to avoid.
Here are our top three job interview killers:
1. Getting too personal.
It’s a great sign if you develop a strong rapport with your job interviewer. After all, a friendly attitude and a bit of humor go a long way to ease the tension and to show the interview a bit of your personality. Still, there’s a fine-line between being friendly and being too casual, so keep your questions and answers on the professional end of the spectrum.
2. Talking too much.
It’s natural to be nervous during a job interview but be careful that your nerves don’t get the best of you. Take a few moments to process each interview question and think about your answers before responding so you don’t trip over your tongue or ramble, which can ruin the interview. Job interviewers want clear, concise answers, so be straight to the point, provide pertinent details, and avoid tangents. Speak slowly and clearly and never interrupt your interviewer!
3. Focusing on yourself.
It’s vital that you share your professional achievements, skills and goals during a job interview, but to balance the conversation, your answers should focus on how you can use your experiences and skills to the potential employer’s benefit. To do so, use details about the company you gleaned from your research, call up the job requirements, and explain how you would go above and beyond to help the company grow.