Hello, this is Laura Lee Rose – author of the business and time management books TimePeace: Making peace with time – The Book of Answers: 105 Career Critical Situations – and I am a business and efficiency coach that specializes in time management, project management, and work-life balance strategies.
This question came from a business professional.
What 3 things should you never do on a job interview?
Top 3 things you should never do
Although there are lots of things to keep in mind, some things to consider are:
- Don’t be late.Plan to be at least 1 hour early to avoid any traffic or travel issues. Once there, sit in a nearby coffee shop (not in their office). Arriving too early is almost as bad as late. Use that time to study and research the company.
Stuck in traffic is not a valid reason.
There are unavoidable reasons like flight got delayed, if you are flying. In which case just make sure you email them or drop them a message about it.
- Don’t under dress. Now a days most of the jobs are okay with you being casual and they usually end up adding the dress code to the email specifying interview details. But putting on a buttoned shirt or a proper jacket is still a good idea, even if people at the place wear shorts at work regularly. You can do that once you have the job. No one is going to tell you that you were dressed too formally for the job, but dressed too casually can end up being a reason for negative points on the interview(not that anyone cares, but why take the risk).
- Don’t lie. Don’t lie on your resume or interview. Lies have a way of coming out. Exaggerating or taking credit for other’s accomplish is also a “no-no”. People do business with people they know, like and trust. Starting your business relationship on a lie is no way to do business.
Other things to consider
- Be Clueless About the Company.
- Knowing the basics about a company is as simple as pointing and clicking.
- Talk Too Soon About Money.
- Although you should know what your salary requirements, don’t be the first person to bring up salary.
- Forget Copies of Your Resume.
- Don’t assume an interviewer has a copy of your resume handy, no matter how many times you’ve sent it or to whom.
- Trash a Previous Employer.
- The fastest way to talk yourself out of a new job is to say negative things
- Lack Enthusiasm.
- The most common error is candidates not being excited about the company’s mission and vision
- Forget to Ask Questions.
- Asking questions illustrates your enthusiasm and interest in the position and simply shows you’ve been paying attention.
- You can also use your questions to illustrate your knowledge and problem-solving skills.
- Talk Too Much.
- Pay attention to social cues; if the interviewer frequently has to cut you off in order to move on, you’re probably talking too much.
- Leave Your Cell Phone On
- Being interrupted by a cell phone completely undermines your message that you are serious about this interview, company and job position
If you need want to discuss in more detail, please setup a one-on-one consult session.
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