Discover three common mistakes and learn how to avoid them
I read a blog post earlier today focusing on three "deadly mistakes" made during interviews. I've written on the positive side of these things before, but looking at the negative side is useful too. In other words, I wrote posts on what you should do, but looking at what you should not do may be equally useful, even though if you get the first part right, should automatically avoid the things in the second.
The three mistakes were as follows: "poor non-verbal communication image," "poor verbal communication skills," and "not asking questions."
I addressed the first mistake in my article: Interviewing Part Two: Presentation. Poor non-verbal communication is a broad category. It includes anything from general uncleanliness, to slouching during the interview, to not making direct eye contact. Interviewing Part Two recommends shaking hands "firmly," being clean without added scents, and wearing appropriate clothing, among many other things. Interviewing Part Three: Performance goes on: "always smile and strive to maintain eye contact." If you read the series, you're sure to learn more ways to improve your non-verbal communication image.
The second mistake, focused on verbal communication, is also taken up in Part Two and Three of my Interviewing series. Generally, poor verbal communication falls in one of three categories: (1) inappropriate language or topics of conversation, (2) inaudible or mumbled expression, or (3) excessive shyness. Inappropriate language includes slang, course language, or dirty jokes. Save these for another time. Inappropriate topics are numerous: researching the company before hand should help you avoid them. Also, be sure to resist the temptation to give too much personal information...it is easy to give "too much information," and you never know how your job interviewer will react to more private things in your life. In my second Interviewing article I go over sound and voice: be conscious of your articulation and volume. Make sure you speak loud enough that no one has to strain to hear you, but be careful not to shout or go too loud. If you are worried about articulation and volume, have a friend lead you through a mock interview so you can get your bearings. In my third article on interviewing, I recommend being "attentive and engaging" and willing to "ask questions!" You want to make sure your interviewer knows you are interested in the job. Being too shy could lead to all sorts of negative assumptions about you: you're unprepared, you're not interested in the position, you have a bad attitude, etc...
I addressed the third mistake above (not asking questions): it is part of engaging your interviewer. You want to actively communicate with him or her. It should be a conversation, not a lecture. Do not do the minimum and simply answer questions, return with questions of your own that show you have researched and know about the company and the position. Be careful however: do not be so forward as to try and direct the course of the interview yourself. Remember, they are interviewing you. Still, it is helpful to remember that, to some extent, you are also conducting an interview of the company. Interviews go both ways: the company sees if you are the right candidate, and you determine if they really have the right position for you.
The last point I want to make is that all three "deadly mistakes" involve communication. This is why practicing can be so useful to some people, and adequate preparation is a must. When you go into a interview without practice or preparation, you devote time and energy during the interview to compensating for this, often directly harming your communication skills. Think back to college: whenever an unprepared person gave a presentation it was always immediately noticeable in the way they spoke. Everything from stuttering and stammering to a natural tendency to lower one's voice when one is not confident immediately show the experienced interviewer that the interviewee is not ready. Nothing can compensate for advanced preparation and practice.
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