Mistakes to avoid during the interview

So if you have an interview scheduled and you are looking up for some expert tips and tricks then you are at right place. Many people make common mistakes when they go for an interview, so lets start without wasting time.

1 Limp handshake

Now you would be thinking what is this limp handshake, it is basically a firm handshake when you meet the interviewer, keep in mind that also make a strong eye contact along with a firm handshake would be a plus point, if you want to make it even better have a genuine smile on your face along with the eye contact and firm handshake, here you will make your first good impression and would be considered confident in front of the interviewer.

2. Chat up the storm

Usually when people get into an interview they get confused and keep on going with what so ever they get into their mind they speak up. What are you doing? Wait and take a pause and think what would the interviewer be thinking? He/she would start yawning and might get annoyed easily. So NEVER DO THIS!!

What you need to do is that you have to be prepared well for the interview, do your homework about the company, what they do? Which business are they in? What are their clients? What is their Core competency? And how you are going to benefit the organization? When I was giving my first interview interviewer said let’s stop it right here and tell me one thing why should we hire you?

 And I was like because it resonates with my long-term goals so I think it is the best option. WRONG!!

Don’t be me, never do this because when the interviewer say why should we hire you? You need to come up with strong convincing points that would benefit the organization from your side. You’re getting me? Like you are applying for the Marketing position, where you need to make convincing promotional campaigns and dealing with clients, you must have those strong points to convince the interviewer that you are the right person for this job.

Again think that you have been asked the same question after knowing the facts. You would be saying that because I have much experience in campaigns management, while I was studying I was a part of media society where I was working on these campaigns, I have good communication skills built throughout my educational career. Things like that will help you a lot.

3.  Slouching Body language

This is what you show with your posture. Human beings communicate with their body languages and one can easily understand what the other person is trying to communicate even without any intentions. It is one of the most important factor you should consider even in your daily life. So while you are being interviewed have a good smile on your face and sit straight. Do not slouch, many people have the tendency to slouch, even I also have whenever I’m at home or with some friends. This is not good have a confident body language.

4. Craft stories for your skills

Now this is very important element, many people in their resumes write in their skills portion that excellent communication skills, proficiency on MS Office, leadership skills and all that stuff, how would you justify your skills? There are soft and hard skills, soft skills are like hardworker, pressure handler and hard skills are technical ones like knowing the basics of MS Excel and advanced formulae. So when are asked by the interviewer that how good are your leadership skills? Tell them a story where you had lead a group in your class and managed them to work together in a decent manner, stories are very important in order to justify your skillset. Secondly it will bring up the conversation between you and the interviewer.

5. Build up the conversation

As I mentioned above that many people get confused while being interviewed and when they start speaking they go on like parrot. You need to stay with the interviewer, what he/she is asking stick to the question only, yes you have the option to answer the open ended questions in a way you want and you can take time. But that does not mean you take time to think, it means that when the interviewer asks an open ended question he/she lets you take the conversation where you want them to be, this is a good chance for you in order to take the interview where your strengths lie. You would be thinking how? Lets take the example of a most commonly asked question “tell me about yourself?” do not go like I born in xyz city, and then I went there I did this and all that stuff it would be too long. Keep it précised and stick to the interests of the interviewer, you can have the driving seat right in the very beginning of the interview, startup with your small introduction and take it to your strengths because the interviewer would ask questions on the basis of the answers you provide.

So be prepared for the interview, take time and know yourself as much as you can, know your strengths and weaknesses, why you are going to apply for this job? You should have the answer for that.

I hope you find these points helpful and you get success in your upcoming interviews.