5 job interview mistakes you shouldn’t be making in 2019

You’ve landed that big interview – now plan for success by avoiding these common pitfalls.

These days you need to do more to land a job than simply run a comb through your hair, type up a resume and perfect a firm handshake. Modern job-hunting can seem like a full-time occupation. All that searching and scrolling; an endless churn of cover letters and CV edits; being hopeful, then discouraged, then mainly just bewildered. By the time you get to interview stage, the whole process may start to seem overwhelming. But don’t let these five mistakes sabotage your success.

Your potential new employer is looking for a candidate who appears interested and well-informed so, at the very least, type their business name into a search engine before you turn up for the interview. What do they do? What’s their mission? How are they structured? Read through the company’s website and ‘About Us’ section, then check out their presence on social media like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, plus any newsfeed mentions.

If you know the name of your interviewers ahead of time, you might like to research them as well. What are their job titles? Where do they fit in the company structure? What can their blogs or LinkedIn profiles tell you about their preferences and personal history?

If you’ve ever posted questionable content online, now is the time to hit ‘delete’. This includes complaints about your current boss (or workplace), any rude text or images, and religious or political rants. Review privacy settings on all of your accounts, and make sure you know for certain who can see your profile before posting. (Though to be on the safe side, assume your current and future employer can view everything, and work out from there.)

Once this digital spring-cleaning is done, make sure your viewable profiles are up-to-date, with recent photos, job information and frequent thoughtful posts.

Not all industries require workers in a suit and tie, so do your research ahead of time and dress accordingly. Is your potential employer more formal? Or will a nice shirt and jeans suffice? If you’re unsure, search the company’s website and social media for employee images and match their dress style as closely as you can. Don’t forget: you can always ask your recruiter ahead of time about appropriate attire. And dress a little more formally if you’re still unsure.

Once you’ve picked an outfit, make sure it’s comfortable and fits well. (An interview is not the time for wearing in brand-new shoes or discovering your blouse feels scratchy.) Pay attention to the details: shine your shoes, check for loose threads and neaten your nails. The smallest thing can change a first impression.

Even the most confident among us can get tongue-tied in an interview. Or, worse, remember that brilliant point to make once you’ve left the room. It may seem odd to study your own resume, but re-read and make notes ahead of time, so you can easily recall details in the moment: times you overcame a tough challenge, for example, or those big achievements you want to mention.

If you’re still uncomfortable with self-promotion, stick to the facts. What was the name of the award you won? Did sales increase by 20% under your tenure? Jot down personal highlights on a cheat sheet and review it ahead of time. You could also pre-plan ideas for what to say when they get to the inevitable final query: “Do you have any questions you’d like to ask us?”

No matter what time your interview is scheduled, pretend it’s 30 minutes earlier and work from there. Even with a half-hour buffer, it makes sense to plan your journey: ensure your car is fuelled up or public transport card ready to use, and charge your smartphone, too (just in case of emergencies).

If you arrive early, sit in a nearby café or public space and take the opportunity to calm yourself. Mentally review the checklist of information you want to communicate. Then take a moment to acknowledge your success. Out of all the applicants for this job, they want to talk to you. It’s already a small win. And you have the power to make it a big one.

Staff writers come from a range of backgrounds including health, wellbeing, music, tech, culture and the arts. They spend their time researching the latest data and trends in the health market to deliver up-to-date information, helping everyday Australians live healthier lives. This is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances. The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances.

Disclaimer:
The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as financial, medical, health, nutritional, tax or other advice. It does not take into account any individual’s personal situation or needs. You should consider obtaining professional advice from a financial adviser and/or tax specialist, or medical or health practitioner, in relation to your own circumstances and before acting on this information.