Interview Mistakes

You can avoid all of these!

• Arrive late
• Arrive unprepared – no resume, not sure what the company does
• Bring a friend, family member, or pet
• Chew gum
• Carry a beverage – no coffee, no water
• Allow your cell to ring or vibrate
• Dress down
• Wing the interview
• Have a weak or sweaty handshake
• Carry the scent of heavy perfume/cologne, tobacco, alcohol
• Interact unprofessionally or unkindly to any staff members
• Yawn
• Use “um,” “like,” or “you know” over and over
• Give a long answer hoping to “hit it right”
• Appear uninterested
• Unable to articulate your strengths
• Unable to connect your strengths to the job
• Say you don’t have a weakness
• Avoid eye contact – can appear untruthful or uninterested
• Make too much eye contact – can make someone uncomfortable
• Try to control the interview
• Be dishonest
• Make excuses
• Answer a question without thinking – it’s ok to pause
• Provide an answer, when you don’t know the answer
• Take all the credit for the success of a group
• Speak negatively about past employers, colleagues, classmates, faculty
• Ask about salary
• When asked, “Do you have any questions?” — you say no