Fired Before You re Hired Five Ways To Ruin Any Interview
rrive on time. Dress well. had plenty of experience and
Write a thank-you note. great references, but he met his
Don’t lie on the downfall while making small talk.
application. You have the After the interview, the hiring
job-hunting basics down, but the manager mentioned in passing that
gods of employment have plagued he had recently received a DUI.
your people with a drought. My colleague, attempting to
Whether you’re interviewing after empathize, admitted that he, too,
a layoff, seeking a change of had received a DUI ticket. On
employment or documenting your three separate occasions. Lesson
futile interviewing plight to learned: get job first. Tell war
milk yet another unemployment stories later.
check, be aware of these five
deadly interviewing sins. 2. Don’t forget to train
rigorously.
1. Don’t get too friendly. Reading job-seeking books,
You’re chatting with the articles and studying potential
interviewer, discussing interview questions are all great
professional experiences and ways to prepare, but these
swapping war stories; however, a resources don’t exactly put you
relaxed interviewing environment in the interviewing hot seat. You
is no excuse to become complacent wouldn’t expect to run a marathon
in your professionalism. just because you’ve read several
books about running, would you?
An ex-colleague of mine was Get a friend or significant other
looking to migrate back towards to give you a dry run through a
substance-abuse counseling, his hypothetical interview with
original area of study and suggested questions from these
expertise. He was cordial, books or articles. Even better,
outgoing and a hard worker. He if you know someone who is a
hiring manager or works in human is playing a game. By the time
resources (for a different you realize you are involved in a
company, of course), ask them to game, you have already lost. Take
administer the mock interview. this knowledge and answer the
next question completely,
By humbling yourself and asking concisely and without superfluous
for the help of others, you’ll commentary.
receive constructive criticism
and be able to integrate another The yes man is just as deadly, if
perspective into your response. not more so, than the poker face.
You may even be asked a question He will nod his head and seem to
that you never considered understand and agree with every
answering, making great practice answer. Feeling encouraged by
for unexpected interview this enthusiasm, you will
surprises. elaborate. And elaborate. You
will continue elaborating until
3. Don’t forget to shut up. you realize that you could say
When you’re done answering the your career goals to sleep with
question, shut your mouth. The the boss, publish trade secrets
two deadliest kinds of and burn the building down, and
interviewers we will refer to as the yes man would still nod his
the “poker face” and the “yes head.
man.” The poker face will ask you
a question and give no signs of In the yes man’s defense,
life during the answer. In hopes sometimes he may actually agree
of eliciting a smile, nod or with what you are saying at
comprehending grunt, you will first, but, towards the end,
elaborate. And elaborate. You every nod means “Yes, I
will continue elaborating until understand. Just like I
you realize that the poker face understood ten minutes ago.
Please stop talking, lest I proud.
puncture my own eardrums with Bring a notepad, pen and three
this letter opener.” copies of your resume and
references. Taking notes shows a
4. Don’t forget to tone it down. proactive attitude and commitment
Everyone knows not to bad-talk a to the interview. Additionally,
previous employer, but even a these notes will be useful later
comment where you feel you have when writing a personalized
restrained yourself may ring sour thank-you note to the
with the interviewer. If you’re interviewer.
jaded and bitter with your
current job or the interviewing If multiple members of management
process, try to keep the are administering the interview,
disillusion to a minimum. Take make sure to provide a resume for
yourself to a happy place. each person. Worst-case scenario:
Reminisce about the time you you only bring one resume and end
unwrapped a vending machine up with back-to-back interviews,
sandwich, locked it in your thus leaving you empty-handed for
manager’s file cabinet and the second round.
allowed their office to smell
mysteriously foul for weeks. If Whether you’re rebounding from a
your personality is sarcastic or layoff, looking for a different
dry, make sure to take this down job or seeking excuses to stay
a notch as well. While your unemployed, these tips will help
friends and family may understand you accomplish your objective. By
your charismatic quirks, a becoming aware of these deadly
complete stranger may not. interviewing sins, you’ve taken
the first step towards meeting
5. Don’t forget to bring enough your goal!
supplies to make a Boy Scout
About the Author:
Gwendolyn Lee is a statistician and analyst of Internet-related metrics for http://www.rubberstamps.net. She has researched and implemented business models to maximize profitability, efficiency and advertising tracking.
Read more articles by: Gwendolyn Lee
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