What NOT to Say and Do During An Interview

I’ve interviewed MANY people over the years.  Some were rising stars and some weren’t.  What differentiated the two really came down to attitude and response.

The “star” candidates among us projected the right thoughts, articulation and mirroring body language.  They think before they speak and they displayed a remarkable ability to maintain calm during the most stressful of questioning.

Chances are if you have ever landed a job you have said and did the right things.  As you start becoming more transient you will be meeting with more people and thus the likelihood of doing something which will harm your chances will increase. 

One time I was interviewing someone who not only had his cell phone turned on but when it rang he answered it and proceeded to have a conversation right in front of me (with a competitor, no less).  Needless to say I cut the interview short and never represented him.  I had an opportunity lined up for him too.

Anyway, I’ve tabulated what I think is a reasonable list of things NOT to say during an interview.  Keep them in mind because it is much easier to remember than trying to remember what TO SAY.

1.  Don’t be dressed in business casual gear.  Wear a suit & tie (guys).  I’m not a fashion expert ladies but I think you know a good pant suit will serve you well.  Polish your shoes – most people notice shoes for some odd reason. 

2.  Do not bring your cell phone into the interview.  If you have to then turn it off before entering the building.  Nothing kills the momentum and flow of an interview like a bad ring tone.

3.  Stay away from drinking coffee/soft drinks before your interview.  If the interview runs more than an hour long you are going to regret it. 

4.  Do not talk negatively about your past employers.  Always focus in the positive aspect of your previous job and colleagues.  Talking “dirt” about your previous relationships will only serve to make you look the same.

5.  Do not bring up money (unless you are asked).  Money is not why you want the job and you do not want to be perceived as such.

6.  Refrain from interrupting the interviewer.  Listen to the question, understand the question and answer the question.  Be clear/concise and provide facts when needed.

7.  Stay away from fidgeting, tapping your toes or shaking your leg.  It’s distracting and only serves to feed you with more of the nervous energy you are trying to stay away from.

8.  Never making eye contact will mean you are never going to beat your competitors.  When answering questions make eye contact and lean forward a little to show your interest.

9.  Don’t leave without an idea of what the next steps are.  Thank the interviewer for their time and find out what the rest of the interview process will entail.

Most of this is common sense but you would be surprised how many people make common mistakes which costs them a career opportunity.  There are hundreds of articles on how to best conduct yourself during an interview so I ask that you dig down deep and Google the subject.

This article was written by Jay Zaidi – jzaidi1@hotmail.com