The interview is very important for you and the employer to get to know each other, and what you show during the interview can be a deciding factor in getting the job. Don’t let yourself make these 12 regrettable mistakes during the interview!
Poor communication skills.
In an interview, you need to pay attention to communication in a professional and positive manner with the recruiter. Shaking hands, eye contact, body language, and other factors are the top priorities in the communication process. These things will help them evaluate you, even before the interview begins.
During the conversation, you should sit up straight, look the recruiter in the eye, and absolutely avoid crossing your legs, as this may indicate uncertainty and fear. You should also be sure to turn off your phone before the interview.
Do not ask questions or ask questions that are off-topic
Your profile may be one of the most valuable profiles. However, there is always a part of asking questions back to the interviewer at the end of the interview, not having questions or asking irrelevant questions will make you evaluated as unprepared.
You can prepare about 2-3 questions about your position, benefits, company, etc. For example, you can ask: “Is there an opportunity for job rotation in other countries for this position?” This will show that you are truly committed and serious about this job
Talking too much
Many candidates believe that they need to maximize their time during the interview by talking excessively to showcase themselves. This is not advisable as the nature of the interview is a two-way conversation where both parties get to know each other. Talking too much can demonstrate an overly inflated ego or an attempt to hide fear.
Instead, you need to remain calm and answer the recruiter’s questions accurately and adequately.
It’s not enough to say
The act of answering questions too briefly, even with only 1-2 words, can make the other person feel distant and find it difficult to ask follow-up questions or delve deeper into getting to know you. Therefore, you can expand your answers by adding examples or sharing more about off-topic stories or reasons why you did something. This will surely help the employer understand you better and make the sharing session more interesting and smoother.
If you are not a talkative person, just try to share openly, fully, and focus on the most important points as much as you can.
Answering the wrong question
When you answer a question that is not on the topic, the employer may feel that your problem-solving skills are poor, your ability to express yourself is not good, or you have memorized the answers and tried to shift the focus of the question.
Therefore, when you are asked a question, listen carefully to the question, think of an appropriate answer that is on topic without putting yourself and the employer in a difficult position. At the same time, ask questions to the employer to clarify the issue if necessary. This will definitely be a plus for you.
Inappropriate clothing
The first impression about you in the eyes of a recruiter will be your appearance. Therefore, choosing a neat, polite, and professional outfit is always a smart choice. For men, you can choose a pair of trousers, a dress shirt, and a matching vest if available. For women, you have more choices such as a dress shirt or a high-necked blouse, combined with a fitting skirt or dark-colored trousers.
If you know that the company does not care about attire when working, choosing a pair of jeans for the interview is not a wise choice. You also need to avoid heavy makeup or outfits with too bold designs and colors.
Too humble and humble
This will be a highly valued factor, but not during the interview. Because you need to present yourself sufficiently to the employer about your knowledge, skills, etc. in the short time of the sharing session.
Being too modest will show that you lack conviction, appear mediocre compared to other candidates, and reduce your chances of being hired. However, you should not be too proud of yourself or overly confident when talking about your achievements because inadvertently it will make the employer think that you are an arrogant, self-important person.
Not mastering company information and job details (JD)
Carefully read the job description (JD) and research information about the company to ensure that you are doing the right thing. In particular, you need to understand the company name, current branches or subsidiaries, market and industry, company history, vision and mission, company products, competitive environment, market trends, etc.
This shows that you are a meticulous, observant, and truly serious person about your job. Otherwise, the recruiter may easily misunderstand that you are just “spreading your resume” and submitting applications indiscriminately to companies.
Do not take the interview seriously
The interview round is an extremely important phase that helps candidates and employers understand each other better. Therefore, you should embrace every situation that arises during the interview in the most positive way possible, as it may be just a few small challenges that the employer uses to assess you more comprehensively.
Never display a non-serious and unprofessional attitude, as this will significantly tarnish your image. This is also the reason why you may miss out on opportunities to work at the company not only this time but also in other recruitment rounds of the company.
Focusing too much on money
Please do not bring up the issue of money too early in your job interview. This may cause you to lose points in the eyes of the employer because what you prioritize is not career advancement or experience.
You should note that topics such as salary and benefits will definitely be discussed towards the end of the session. Therefore, don’t rush to mention them early and focus on demonstrating your suitability for this position.
Criticize the management at the old company
Even when you don’t have a good impression of your former boss or company, speaking negatively about them is not advisable. No employer would want a member of their company to speak badly about them when leaving.
This is also why you are often asked about the reason for leaving your previous company. Instead of expressing negative opinions, show the recruiter your desire to develop yourself and your excitement to take on new challenges in this job.
Come too early or too late
Being late or too early shows that you are unprofessional and do not care about time management. Arriving 5-10 minutes early for an interview is enough time to fix your appearance and calm your nerves before the conversation.
You may also consider arriving 30 minutes early to avoid any unforeseen issues such as traffic or car trouble. If you are hesitant to arrive too early and bother the interviewer, a small tip is to find a nearby coffee or tea shop to adjust your attire, demeanor, and relax before entering the interview.
