6 deadly interview bloopers that can torpedo your chances of success

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If you’re guilty of one or more of these interview bloopers, you drastically reduce your chances at job interviews. Unfortunately, job hunters make these huge mistakes time and again.

One of the best things you can do to get that job is to just avoid these issues. Here are the big six – and ways you can avoid them.

1. Being unprepared

This is one of the biggest mistakes of them all.

The path of least resistance is to appear for interviews totally unprepared and wing your way through it.

Now, this approach has landed jobs for people.

However, the fact that it works sometimes only adds to the danger. It masks the greater fact that it does not work much of the time. That’s why its one of the big no-nos.

What does being prepared mean? Well, this entire site is, in a sense, an answer to that question. But specifically, here is a page with a great list of common interview questions and answers, to get you started. Check it out!

2. Thinking that you have nothing to offer

The only reason they will hire you is because you can help solve some of their problems. Or achieve certain results. You have something solid to contribute.

Yet, most candidates behave as if the only party who has something to offer is the person doing the interviewing.

That breeds lack of confidence like a dirty, stagnant ditch breeds mosquitoes. It’s a big blooper with a cascading effect which can cause the interviewee to trip up at critical moments.

Unless you can get your thinking straight on this point, you will be afraid and unsure.

Yes, an interviewer will judge you. But it is up to you to judge him and his organization as well.

3. Going without the fire inside you

No enthusiasm inside you, no ‘fire’ inside. This is often the result of the first two mistakes listed above.

When you are unprepared and believe that you do not have anything to offer – you end up with no enthusiasm at all.

In fact, far from being enthusiastic, you are probably filled with fear and misgivings.

Being enthusiastic simply means having a feeling of energy and eagerness when you contemplate your potential new job and therefore by extension, the interview you are about to attend.

You can certainly be a very quiet, introverted person and yet be very enthusiastic. Because enthusiasm has nothing to do with introversion / extroversion in the first place.

But the fact is – your enthusiasm or lack of it will cause a similar response in the interviewer. You can’t expect an interviewer to be enthusiastic about you when you are not.

So make sure you take all steps to light your fire and avoid yet another common job interview blooper.

4. Thinking your interview ends at the interview

Many candidates do just that. They leave an interview and then wait by the phone, hoping it will ring with a job offer at the other end.

That happens. But the game is all about improving your chances of landing the job you want. You want to make things happen.

Lack of good follow up can mean that you do not get the job. Because it may have gone to someone else who is doing a good job of following up.

The good news is, effective follow up after job interviews is not all that difficult. See this page for ideas about interview thank you letters.

5. Not demonstrating what you can do for them

The most effective way to respond to questions at interviews is to tell them real examples of how you achieved certain results or solved specific problems in the past.

You must let your potential employers know how you can be useful to them. That’s what the preparation, the interview tactics and the follow up are all about.

Many job hunters treat the interviewers to dull recitals of their background, or their educational qualifications, etc. Such answers are big interview bloopers.

Before, during and after the interview, be ever willing to look at things from the other person’s point of view. Then you will be able to demonstrate how you can create value for them.

6. Not relating well enough to the interviewer

Think about it.

Who would you prefer to hire — someone who comes across as relaxed and engaging, or someone who seems tense and aloof?

The answer is obvious.

Yet, many job seekers come across as stiff and stressed out. This can hurt their chances quite a bit.

Remember, the interviewer is a professional like you who is looking to solve a problem. Relate to him or her by being relaxed and pleasant, and keep the interaction going back and forth in a natural fashion.

In other words, be yourself!

Candidates make these six deadly interview bloopers every day. Avoid them and have a successful job hunt!