| Okay, so you made the commitment to go back to | | | | to get there. Go to MapQuest or look at a paper map, |
| school and learn new skills or acquire a degree in | | | | but make sure you know how to get to the building. |
| order to make yourself more marketable. Now it's time | | | | You might want to drive the route the night before so |
| for the job interview. Just make sure that you don't | | | | you'll know where to park and how far the building is |
| waste all those months (and maybe years) of | | | | from the parking lot. If you end up late to your |
| education and skill upgrading and blow it all with a bad | | | | interview because you didn't know how long the drive |
| job interview. | | | | would take, or exactly which route to follow, you've |
| What are some of the biggest job interview mistakes? | | | | already lost the interview before stepping in the room. |
| 1. The number one biggest job interview mistake is to | | | | 6. Not defining your strengths. Leave a positive |
| fail to research the company for which you're | | | | impression with the interviewer about what benefit |
| interviewing. It may seem obvious, but many people | | | | they would receive by hiring you. This is where you |
| just don't do their homework and find out about the | | | | really have to market yourself and let the interviewer |
| company for which they hope to work. For example, | | | | know what you can do for them. You have to let the |
| have you gone to the company's website if they have | | | | company know what sets you apart from all the other |
| one? Do you know the CEO's name, the stock ticker | | | | applicants. |
| symbol (if applicable), and the names of their biggest | | | | 7. Not asking questions. When the interviewer asks |
| competitors? Failure to be prepared with knowledge | | | | you at the end of the interview if you have any |
| of the company shows disinterest to the interviewer. | | | | questions for them, are you prepared with 3-4 |
| Make sure you know as much as you can about the | | | | intelligent questions, or do you just smile and say, "not |
| company before stepping foot in the interview room. | | | | really." Interviewers like it that you ask questions. But, |
| 2. Dressing inappropriately for the interview. Notice the | | | | make them questions that show your interest in the |
| word "inappropriately," which can imply under-dressed | | | | company. Steer away from questions like "and how |
| as well as over-dressed. For example, casual clothes | | | | many vacation days do I get again?" |
| are inappropriate for a corporate job. A suit and tie | | | | 8. Trying too hard. It's tricky, but the real key is to just |
| can be inappropriate for a creative job or laid-back | | | | be yourself and don't try too hard to be liked. You |
| company. A cocktail dress is just inappropriate. The | | | | know people who try too hard - they laugh at all your |
| more you know about the company, the more you | | | | jokes, even when they're not jokes; they show fake |
| know what appropriate and inappropriate clothing is to | | | | enthusiasm and they overly agree with everything you |
| that company. | | | | say. Don't be that person. Be you. |
| 3. Not knowing why you're there. Be clear you know | | | | 9. Not listening. Don't let your mind wander in the |
| exactly for what position you're interviewing. It's not a | | | | interview, stay focused on what is being said. Don't |
| job you're interviewing for, it's a position, a need you're | | | | miss the current question by trying to anticipate the |
| fulfilling for the company. How can you convey the | | | | next one. And, don't get carried away by your internal |
| fact you're right for the position if you're not really clear | | | | critic who's critiquing everything you're doing. If you |
| on what it is? | | | | make a mistake, don't focus on the criticism in your |
| 4. Not being rested. If you've partied the night before, | | | | head, but, rather, focus on what the interviewer is |
| are lacking sleep, and didn't give yourself adequate | | | | talking about. |
| time to prepare for the interview, it shows. Make sure | | | | 10. Criticizing your former boss. Above all, don't dish the |
| you get plenty of sleep and your clothes are pressed | | | | dirt about your current or former employment. Be |
| and ready. In addition, make sure you've eaten | | | | graceful about any disagreement you are having or |
| something before the interview. | | | | have had with your former boss. If you start criticizing |
| 5. Not knowing how to physically get to the interview. | | | | former employers, the interviewer might think you |
| Many people make the mistake of neglecting to find | | | | might do the same regarding your employment with |
| out exactly where the interview is being held and how | | | | them someday. |