| You did it! You impressed your future employer to the | | | | finish their sentences, and try not to ramble on when |
| point where they called you in for a face-to-face job | | | | you're speaking. |
| interview. This is your chance to go in there in person | | | | 5. Lack of Preparation: On the other hand, it's vital that |
| and shine. Now that you've been given this opportunity, | | | | you prepare for a job interview by researching the |
| it's critical that you don't waste it. Here are the top ten | | | | company and preparing for all the typical questions |
| mistakes made in job interviews and how to avoid | | | | you're likely to be asked. If the interviewer asks a |
| them. | | | | question you don't know the answer to, you're much |
| 1. Dressing Dreadfully: According to a survey, the single | | | | better off telling them so than stuttering and mumbling |
| most common mistake made by candidates in job | | | | as you grope for an answer. |
| interviews is inappropriate dress. It's almost a certainty | | | | 6. Not Asking Pertinent Questions: An interview is a |
| that you as the candidate will be expected to wear a | | | | two-way street. You don't want to ask a bunch of |
| business suit or other formal dress to the interview. | | | | irrelevant questions at a job interview, but you do want |
| The one exception to this rule can be high-tech | | | | to ask pertinent, well-thought-out questions that require |
| companies, where anything other than jeans and flip | | | | more than a yes or no answer. |
| flops might make you stick out like a sore thumb. | | | | 7. Late on Arrival: You never get a second chance... |
| 2. Badmouthing The Boss: Believe it or not, the second | | | | No doubt you've heard it before. If you're going to be |
| most common mistake made by a job candidate was | | | | late, call and tell the interviewer, the sooner the better. |
| badmouthing their former boss. How do you think your | | | | If it's earlier in the day, ask if you can reschedule for |
| perspective boss will feel if they hear you harping on | | | | later that day. |
| your prior boss? They're going to wonder whether | | | | 8. Being Inarticulate: One of the questions you're almost |
| they'll be the topic of conversation if you should | | | | sure to hear at a job interview is "What are your |
| happen to move on to another company in the future. | | | | strengths and weaknesses?" Although it might seem |
| Even if you have excellent reasons to be bitter, don't | | | | like a simple question, more often than not it's tough to |
| do it. | | | | articulate the answer, so practice. Rehearse the |
| 3. Lack of Excitement: If you can't get excited for the | | | | answers you plan to give for questions like this. |
| job interview, your interviewer will probably figure that | | | | 9. Being too General: When the interviewer asks you a |
| you won't be very enthusiastic while you're on the job. | | | | question, do your best to give examples or |
| Sit or stand up straight. Smile! Make sure the | | | | connections that link your answer to the job under |
| interviewer knows how excited you are to be | | | | consideration. You're usually better served with |
| interviewing for this particular job. | | | | concise, specific answers rather than longer, rambling |
| 4. Acting Like a Know-It-All: There's probably nothing | | | | answers that don't necessarily apply to the job you're |
| that annoys an interviewer more than an applicant | | | | seeking. |
| who comes in and is aggressive to the point of | | | | 10. Asking about Salary: Don't be too eager to talk |
| arrogance. While it's very important to engage with | | | | salary. While it's vital not to sell yourself short, you don't |
| your interviewer and ask questions, there's a fine line | | | | want to make your salary requirements the |
| between showing interest and monopolizing the | | | | centerpiece of the interview. If it doesn't come up |
| conversation to the point where the interviewer can't | | | | during the course of the interview, you can ask about |
| get a word in edge-wise. Be sure to let the interviewer | | | | the salary toward the end. |