Top 10 Job Interview Mistakes Candidates Make

Nailing the interview merits ample preparation to sidestep common mishaps. Avoid undercutting great experience with these mistakes:

1. Arriving Late
   Punctuality verifies dependability. Tardiness implies disrespect, poor planning, and lack of investment. Leave buffer time accounting for travel or lobby delays when scheduling arrival.

2. Using Casual Greetings
   A limp handshake and mumbled “hey” sets the wrong first impression. Go formal with steady eye contact, solid handshake and clear “Hello Ms. Jones. Pleasure to meet you.”

3. Neglecting Interview Research
   Know the company’s products, values, culture and interviewers’ roles before entering discussions unprepared or misinformed. Thorough research enables meaningful dialogue.

4. Asking No Questions
   Smart questions display genuine curiosity in growth opportunities, challenges and organizational priorities. Lack of engagement raises complacency concerns. Prepare open-ended questions.

5. Providing Vague, Meandering Answers
   Craft clear, concise yet impactful talking points. Quantify achievements focused on their needs. Practice smooth delivery avoiding distracting filler words like “um” and “uh”.

6. Appearing Underdressed
   Tattoos, tattered jeans, short skirts and wrinkled shirts leave wrong impressions. Dress one notch above typical office apparel in clean, pressed apparel.

7. Oversharing Nerves or Personal Details
   Anxiety visibly distracts. Concentrate on calming behaviors and actions within your control first while being appropriately candid yet professional if directly asked about weaknesses or life outside work.

8. Badmouthing Past Employers
   Complaining about ex-employers carries reputation risk and perceived drama. Keep commentary professional focused on learnings and growth.

9. Getting Defensive Around Compensation
   Do research to state reasonable salary requirements but avoid appearing solely money-motivated. Emphasize interest in long-term growth, culture and delivering value.

10. Failing Post Interview Follow Up
    Reinforce interest and extra qualifications not discussed initially via email thanking them and mentioning those additional assets like specialized certifications or cost saving program knowledge.

Avoiding even minor snafus expands interview success chances enormously. Prepare extensively and project your polished, prime candidate self. Share other common interview pitfalls we missed and you suggest avoiding!

Tip of The Day

Remember, confidence is key! But don't overdo it and come across as cocky. You don't want to walk into the interview room like you own the place, demanding a throne and a crown. Instead, find that perfect balance between being self-assured and humble. Show them that you're the right person for the job, but also that you won't be stealing their lunch from the office fridge. After all, nobody likes a lunch thief, no matter how confident they are!