Interview Advice & Tips

The below are some top mistakes candidates make during an interview:

Don't

1. Bring your iphone/phone/ or bb to the interview and place on the table
2. Act overly confident or lack enthusiasm about the position

3. Speak negatively about bosses, previous bosses or past employers.
4. Ask about salary, benefits, and sick days during your screening interviews

5. Interrupt the interviewer

6. Forget to research the employer, job, and interviewer

7. Call the interviewer by the wrong name

8. Arrive late and park in the unauthorized parking area

9. Ask too many questions during the first interview

10. Ramble on and on during the interview

Please share with us some other mistakes you have made during an interview. 

If you happen to be lucky enough to be called for an interview from HR, many times this type of interview may be referred to as a screening interview.  During the screening interview questions will be asked about why you want to leave your employer (if you are employed), why you want to work for the company, how much money you are earning, and salary requirementas. Also, questions about gaps of employment will be asked at that time.

Remember the goal of the Pre-Screen interview is for you to get invited back for another interview with the hiring manager. 

The purpose of the interview is for HR to determine if you can do the job, meet the qualifictaions, have the experience, demonstrate the required competencies, and have the technical skills and expertise.

So, you may be wondering what is the deadly word that could take me out of the game......well, the word curiously enough is "no."

Okay, I'm not telling you to always say yes or to lie.  What I am encouraging you to do is to be prepared and offer solutions. 

One example:

1.  if the interviewer asks you if you have experience with xyz software -- you should do your homework and know that xyz software is similar to the one you are currently using.  You could go onto Lynda.com and educate yourself, and better yet find out how to enroll in a class.

If you are asked the question, instead of saying "No" I don't have experience with that software you could say something like this:

I am familiar with xyz software, it is very similar to the current software that I use which is ____, and I am tentatively enrolled to take the online classes which start ___, and if offered the position I would be able to hit the floor running using the software.

Your job is to show the screener that you are qualified for the position.  You want them to move your resume forward to schedule the next interview.