1Interview Mistake #1 - A Weak Handshake

We all know that first impressions count and your handshake is one of the first ways your potential employer has to evaluate you and your personality.

If you have a limp handshake it may communicate that you are weak and wishy washy when it comes to decision making.

If the job requires decision making skills, a weak handshake can hurt your chances. On the other hand, if your handshake is a bone crusher this may communicate that you are very domineering. Even if you are experienced at interviewing you may not be aware of your handshake so start asking the advice of others who you know will be honest with you so you can avoid this interview mistake.

2Not Matching the Interview Style

Being able to communicate with the potential employer is of utmost importance. If your form of communication does not match the style of the interview you will have trouble landing the job. If the style is informal then match that style by asking about some of the interests of the potential employer. If the style appears to be all business then project a businesslike image and avoid telling the latest joke. This is another common interview mistake.

3Failure to Prepare

It does not matter how good your resume looks or how competent you are if you fail to prepare for the interview. Do your homework on the organization you are interviewing with to learn how they operate, what they have accomplished, and what you see being accomplished in the future. If you learn all you can about the organization it will show your potential employer that you have taken a sincere interest in the organization and its goals and objectives. It will also help you to ask educated questions which are pertinent to the operations of the organization.

4Failure to Prepare for Common Interview Questions

Stumbling over your answers to interview questions is a typical fear of a lot of job seekers.  You can avoid this common interview mistake if you prepare for the most commonly asked interview questions ahead of time so will be less likely to trip over your answers. Although you cannot anticipate every question that will be asked there are common questions that are used during the interview process.

5Not Paying Attention to Body Language

Not recognizing what your body language says is another item on the list of common interview mistakes.

Just like your handshake says a lot about you, your body language does the same.

Not paying attention to your body language can cost you the job even if your answers to questions were right on target.

Avoid playing with your hair, tapping your foot or your pencil, chewing gum, fiddling with your cell phone, or adjusting your clothing during the interview. Also, sit up straight, avoid crossing your legs, and avoid fidgeting with your hands. Solid body language shows you are confident in your appearance and in your abilities.

6Lack of Eye Contact

Failure to make eye contact with your potential employer sends a lot of negative messages such as lack of confidence, lack of interest, potential lying, and other messages that disrupt the conversation. On the other hand, keep in mind that too much eye contact can make the interviewers uncomfortable. If you have to, practice getting a balance of eye contact before you head out to the interview.

7Using Verbal Fillers

This is always on the list of common interview mistakes. When you are nervous during an interview it can be very easy to overdo it with the “ums” and “uhs”. This can keep you from getting heard and damage the impression you want to project. Practice speaking in front of a mirror or make a video of yourself on your webcam prior to the interview so you can see how you look and sound when you speak. You can also tape your speaking to determine how confident you think you come across and where you need to make improvements. That will help you to avoid this common interview mistake.

8Lack of Positive Attitude

A lot of people make the common interview mistake of complaining about their former employers. This usually happens with the question, “Why do you want to leave your current employment?” Do not take this as the opportunity to tell the potential employer how much you hate your former boss or co-workers. This is the ultimate red flag to interviewers and they will wonder if you will do the same with them. Instead come up with positive answers to this question that reflect why you are looking to make a change such as how much you learned on your job and that you are looking for a new challenge.

9Telling Personal Stories

When the interviewer asks, “Can you tell me about yourself?” Many job seekers take this as a cue to reveal everything about their personal life and they ramble on with personal stories about themselves, their family, their pet, or their classic car, to name a few examples. This is not what the interviewer is asking for. Instead come up with a plan for telling them who you are, what you like about your work, and what you hope to achieve with your new position.

10Failure to Follow Up

When you interview there may be as many as 100 other candidates. In order to make you stand out, make sure you follow up after the interview by sending a professional thank you note. Many job seekers make the interview mistake of leaving the interview and then waiting by the phone when it is highly likely they may have gotten lost in the shuffle. Make yourself unique and you will most likely end up in the final candidate pile.

11Avoid the Common Interview Mistakes

It can be very difficult for some people to learn how to pass an interview, but it can be done.  Review the list of common interview mistakes and either practice them or prepare properly to avoid them.  The effort you put into improving your interview skills will pay off with the job you really want.

Are there any common interview mistakes we didn't mention?

Do you have any interview stories that other people could benefit from?