If you’ve seen You, Me and Dupree you may be familiar with this line when he goes for an interview:
“I’m a people person, very personable. I absolutely insist on enjoying life. Not so task-oriented. Not a work horse. If you’re looking for a Clydesdale I’m probably not your man. Like I don’t live to work, it’s more the other way around. I work to live. Incidentally, what’s your policy on Columbus Day?”
As hard as I laughed during this line, it goes without saying that this is not the ideal description of yourself to give to a potential employer. Even if you have graduated from an Ivy League and have a stunning resume, there are several mistakes that can make or break you during an interview (and leave you sleeping on your roommates couch):
1. Being Silent Bob: There’s bound to be a couple questions that may surprise you and you may not know the answer for, but whatever you do, avoid saying “I don’t know” or worse nothing at all. Take your time answering the question, and do your best to answer it in the best way possible. Anything is better than not answering it.
2. Dressing like Britney Spears: While your new sparkly tank top may have gotten a lot of applause from your friends the night before, it will most likely be frowned upon by your interviewer. Dress as professional as possible, and never wear jeans, shorts or capris. If there was ever a time to take Mom’s advice and be “well groomed” this is the time. Brush your teeth, wash your face, if you are a girl wear minimal makeup, comb your hair and trim your nails! Remember, you are a walking reflection of their company if they choose to hire you. (And easy on the cologne and perfume, deodorant should be sufficient)
3. Boss Bashing: Okay so your previous Boss was crazy. She made you work weekends, bring her coffee every morning at a specific temperature and left you with nothing other than a prescription for anxiety medication and rogaine. However, your potential boss does not want to hear this. As bad as it was focus on the positive. Instead of saying “She was flat out crazy,” go with, ” I learned how to remain calm in stressful situations and stay organized to meet strict deadlines.”
4. Weak Sauce: It’s the dreaded question that we all know is coming in every interview.. “What are your biggest Weaknesses?” Even though terms such as “Disorganized, procrastination and bad temper” may immediately pop into your head, DO NOT SAY THEM! This is one scenario where honesty is not the best policy. If you have superpowers, than you may answer “I do not have any weaknesses.” But for the rest of us, saying “I have no weaknesses” will get you an instant ticket to unemploymentville. Instead, think of something somewhat positive, “I’m sometimes too hard on myself, but I’ve learned to do the best I can and be proud of it.” Or say something you learned at your last job that you would like to focus on in the new one, “I didn’t see the importance of filing, and grew frustrated with it, but now I realize how important it is to keep an easily accessible record of all files and hope to improve this in my next job.”
Motor Mouth: While you may have a lot to share about yourself, keep your answers short and to the point. If they ask broad question like “What did you do at your last position?” answer with three to four sentences in a way that relates it to the position you are applying for. This is where being prepared comes in handy, because if you are nervous and haven’t done your homework you may tend to ramble on for longer than necessary.
Name Dropping: As much as you want to tell them that you are currently on the new committee to develop a new interface for the iphone.. this will most likely scare than impress them. It is okay to say you worked with high profile companies and give specific examples but try not to give the names. Easily sharing confidential information about past employers will make them think you will do the same with their company, and who wants to hire an employee they can’t trust?
The Me Me Me Trap: You are going to be asked a lot of questions all about yourself, so they can determine if you are a good fit for their company. But this is also a time to see if they are a good fit for you. Always come prepared with questions. This shows you have researched their company and are showing interest. If not, it’s like a bad date where the other person talks about themselves for the whole time, leaving you unimpressed and extremely full.
Not bringing enough Treats for everyone: You never know how many people will be interviewing you, which is why it is always important to bring several copies of your resume. Also, bring a pen and paper in case you need to take notes, and personal identification, money (no not to bribe them.. what if they ask you to join them for lunch after?), and any letters of recommendation.
Gum Smacking, knuckle cracking, pencil tapping, hair twirling and any other bad habits must be left at home.
And one more thing.. Please Silence your Cell Phones
Tags: job interviews, job search
