The Not-To-Do List: 5 Habits To Stop During An Interview
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- Manners: You have to think back to when you were a kid, what were the manners that you were taught? Don't talk with food in your mouth...Say your Please's and Thank you's...Sit up straight...etc. We know you remember them, so why have you stopped using them? Many candidates today have become overly confident and feel once they land the interview the job is theirs. Well, it could not be more opposite. Always remember your manners in any type of interview. It will go a long way and be acknowledged by the interviewer.
- Pessimistic: You can not always be optimistic and we all know it; and that's okay! On the same token though, you should not be pessimistic either. It comes in all forms during an interview: Not liking your old boss/manager, not liking your old company, not liking your commute, not liking your salary, etc... We know you have said it before and one or twice is okay, but try to keep a lid on it. You will very quickly turn the interviewer off because they don't want to hear your complaining. You can mention that your commute may be farther than you'd like and that is a contributing reason as to why you are looking for a new job, but leave it at that. Short, sweet and to the point. You can complain when you get home, not at the interview.
- Demanding: There many people that feel entitled to certain things, salary being one of them. Just because you have X amount of years of experience or an MBA/CPA/BA/PHD etc. does not mean you should necessarily be paid what you think. Every company/branch/division/state pays differently. There any many factors that go in to creating a salary. When an interviewer asks you your desired salary, you should give a range, not a specific number. When you give a specific number, it can come off as a demand. Do not demand anything. The company is giving you employment, not the other way around.
- Rambling: Everybody knows a rambler, but subconsciously, do you do it in the interview as well? The problem is, once you realized you've done it, it's too late. No matter the interview, you will always be against time. Therefore, it is important to keep your answers concise and to the point. Sometimes interviewers will want to talk to you so they can get to know you and that's okay, but remember you only have 30-60 minutes of their time. You want to be sure to use it wisely and give them the opportunity to ask several questions so they can learn as much as possible about you and your qualifications.
- Body Language: This can be the hardest one to fix. How can you change something that you do not know you're doing and can not see? Simple, practice interviewing with a friend. Your friend should not care so much for your answers, but more for watching your body language. It takes practice and the patience of someone else to sit through your prep interview. Many interviewers today are being specifically trained on how to pick up on body language cues because your body language tells a lot about your character. Don't lose your dream job because something you did not even know you did! Prepare yourself.
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