Top Interview Mistakes and How to Avoid Them-Part 2 (of 2)
Posted by Diana Needham on Sunday, March 8th, 2009
So you’ve landed your first interview after being downsized or taking that early retirement package. In the last post, we discussed the top 3 interview mistakes.
- Lack of professionalism
- Preparation failure
- “Buy first, sell later” attitude
Today we will cover the last 3 interview mistakes.
Money matters most: Don’t ask too soon about benefits and financial information. Doing so can be off-putting to hiring managers who are still trying to learn about your background and determine whether you might be a good fit. Sell yourself first. The discussion about compensation and benefits occurs when the prospective employer brings up these topics. Ideally the detailed discussion does not happen until after the offer has been made.
Negative exposure: Never air a former employer’s dirty laundry or otherwise make disparaging comments. These raise a red flag for hiring managers. Employers may wonder how you would represent their company, and whether your negativity would extend to your new role.
No sparks: When the interview feels flat, it’s likely you’ve failed to create chemistry with the hiring manager. Remember that people want to do business with people they like. It is important to develop a rapport with the interviewer from the start.
Overall, interviewing is not a difficult skill to master. The key to avoiding missteps, making a strong impression and boosting your chances of landing the position lies in the old Boy Scout motto: Be prepared.
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