| Those who have been to job interviews will know | | | | Mistake #5 - Giving an arrogant impression. |
| how horribly nerve wrecking it can be. However, if you | | | | Acting as if you are the greatest in the world and |
| are just starting out fresh from university, the initial | | | | everyone is beneath you will immediately put anyone |
| interview can be very stressful as you are afraid of | | | | off. Nobody likes to talk with people who behave in this |
| making mistakes that may kill your chances of landing | | | | manner. There is absolutely no way to know |
| that job you have always wanted. Fear not. Here are | | | | everything unless you are God. |
| the 11 cardinal mistakes that people make at interviews | | | | Mistake #6 - Touching and using your phone. |
| that dashed their hopes of getting that ideal job to | | | | Mobile phones are major distractions during |
| prepare yourself mentally before you head off for | | | | conversations. How do you expect the interviewer to |
| your interview: | | | | believe that you are serious in wanting the job if you |
| Mistake #1 - Late for the interview. | | | | take calls and or send text messages while he or she |
| Lateness immediately puts the interviewer off. Not | | | | is asking you about what you can bring to the |
| being punctual gives the impression of not being | | | | company? The priority during a job interview is to |
| bothered about getting the job. The worst part is you | | | | answer the interviewer's questions confidently and not |
| are showing disrespect for the interviewer and his or | | | | allow any distractions to ruin your conversation. |
| her time. Don't give excuses such as caught in the | | | | Mistake #7 - Keep digressing the questions asked. |
| traffic or delayed by a flat tyre and expect | | | | Who likes to talk to someone who keeps changing |
| understanding, chances are they won't as you always | | | | topics? Besides it is wasting everybody's time, it is also |
| have the option to leave home earlier. | | | | tiring to listen to things that are irrelevant. This often will |
| Unless you have a valid reason for being tardy or | | | | have given an impression to the interviewer that you |
| unable to turn up at all due to a family emergency, | | | | lack focus. |
| sudden illness, do have the courtesy to contact the | | | | Mistake #8 - Passing personal remarks. |
| interviewer as soon as possible and try to schedule | | | | Leave your casual remarks to yourself! It is not your |
| another interview if possible. | | | | place to comment on the interviewer's dress sense |
| Mistake #2 - Can't be bothered with your personal | | | | even if he is dressed up in a bright yellow with white |
| grooming. | | | | tie. A little formality is fine but keep the conversation |
| Wearing scruffy clothes, T-shirts and jeans, skirts that | | | | focus on a strictly professional footing. |
| are too short and skimpy, over accessorising, not | | | | Mistake #9 - Telling lies! |
| shaving your beard, untidy and crazy hairstyles are | | | | A typical interviewer will be able to identify your lies |
| generally a very bad idea at an interview. The | | | | within the first 10 minutes. Telling one lie will require |
| employer is looking for someone to fill the position and | | | | another lie to cover your tracks. This will lead to more |
| they will like to know that they are hiring the person | | | | lies which the truth will definitely surface sooner or later |
| who will at least look the part. You may think that it is | | | | as you begin to contradict your words. |
| very cool to dress like a party animal but your | | | | Mistake #10 - Criticising yourself. |
| employer is looking for someone with a serious attitude | | | | If you do not believe in yourself, who will? Being overly |
| and some basic grooming to at least look presentable. | | | | humble will never convince the interviewer that you |
| Therefore, make sure your clothes are clean and | | | | are cut for the job. Saying that you have no |
| properly ironed so that you won't look like you have | | | | experience will probably mess up or that you are bad |
| just crawled out of bed. Hide any tattoos that are | | | | at project management will show a lack of confidence. |
| visible too! | | | | Always remember that interviews are opportunities to |
| Mistake #3 - Giving a limp hand shake. | | | | market yourself. Therefore, be positive in your |
| How does it feel to shake the hands of a dead fish? It | | | | statements. |
| simply implies the lack of confidence and or insincerity | | | | Mistake #11 - Broach on the money subject. |
| and will immediately tell the interviewer what kind of a | | | | Bringing up the topic on your salary before the |
| person they will be dealing with if they were to hire | | | | interviewer has even managed to pronounce your |
| you. | | | | name properly will send a signal that you are a |
| Mistake #4 - Avoiding eye contact. | | | | calculating moneygrubber. You may be anxious to |
| Shifting your eyes, looking at the ceiling or the ground, | | | | know the salary amount but leave that to the |
| or constantly turning your eyes away instead of | | | | interviewer to broach on the subject if you do not |
| looking at the interviewer during your conversation | | | | want to appear as money minded, hence sending a |
| implies a lack of confidence, rudeness and or | | | | signal that you care more about your pockets than the |
| insincerity. | | | | company's welfare. |