It’s not uncommon to find tips on what you can do to ace an interview. We even disperse that information here (obviously), but what about those things you shouldn’t do in an interview? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
Mindy, an assistant director at a New York-based arts organization, has conducted more job interviews than words on this page. She took the time to help us give you the skinny on what to avoid. Just don’t say we never warned you.
1) Don’t Come Unprepared
“We tried to hire this girl who had great experience in publishing, but ALL she could talk about was non-fiction,” Mindy says. “She was so focused on her past work in non-fiction that she could not transfer that experience over to how she could help grow our creative community.”
The Take-Away:
It’s important that you do your research before walking through the door for a job interview. This is interview 101. If you are changing industries, make a real effort to prove you know something about the one you want to work in, especially because you might not necessarily have the experience to back it up.
2) Don’t be a Narcissist
“We once asked a girl to tell us about an event she had attended. We asked her what she liked about it and what the event did successfully,” Mindy says. “All she could do was talk about a rock show she had planned two years ago that in her mind was really great. Maybe it was, but that’s not what we asked her.”
The Take-Away:
Yes, talk about yourself, but make sure you talk about more than JUST yourself. Of course you want to highlight your accomplishments and why you’re the right candidate for the job, but you need to keep it balanced and neutral or you could end up giving the wrong impression.
3) Don’t Wear or Do Anything Distracting
“Interviews are long. A candidate pool is very competitive, and companies are seeing a lot of people,” Mindy says. “If you do something distracting, everyone who’s interviewing you is going to be distracted as they ask you the same question they asked the 10 people before you.”
The Take-Away:
Don’t nervously tap your foot. Don’t chew gum. Stay away from bracelets that jingle together when you move your hands. Check your teeth for leftover lunch before you go to your interview. Refrain from a cologne or perfume overload. Make sure your nails are clean and well-groomed. (Unless you’re interviewing for a job at an auto shop.) You want to leave a lasting impression, but not one an interviewer can smell. As a good rule of thumb, remember anything that would be distracting to you can distract your interviewer as well.
4) Don’t be Rude
“We had a girl come in one time for an interview who told us in a really rude way that our social media strategy was failing. Even though she was great on paper, she didn’t know how to approach suggesting a change, which made me feel she couldn’t have responsible dialogue with our business partners,” Mindy says.
The Take-Away:
It’s all about the approach. Interviewers like to hear your ideas for projects you would be interested in starting, marketing, that you think could be successful, etc., but make sure you use your words carefully. Just as with your resume and cover letter, your interview is all about presentation.
Great post! I would also add to the “Don’t be a Narcissist” part that you shouldn’t do all the talking. Ask some questions about the company you are applying for and LISTEN.
When interviewers ask “What’s your worst quality/characteristic?”, I always read you should answer with “I’m a perfectionist.” or “I sometimes spend too long working on one project because I get very passionate about it.” but those “I’m perfect” answers are phony. Wouldn’t the interviewer see through that answer and prefer a more realistic flaw? How do you recommend approaching that question?
Hi Samantha,
Thanks for the question! When it comes to providing a weakness, don’t go overboard with the “make your weakness sound like a strength” thing by saying something like, “Oh, I work too hard” or, “All I do is focus on my job.” Answers like those are laughable and you will lose credibility for providing them. Instead, provide a true weakness (that’s not TOO much of a weakness) and explain how you’ve been improving. For example, “Sometimes I have trouble keeping track of appointments but ever since I began using a calendar and my Blackberry, I’ve become more organized.”
I really like how it is simple and to the point! Great post :)