Interview mistakes

What do you think is the top interview mistake you can make? Take a look at bad interview stories and add yours to the list.

STAY CALM!!!!!!

I recently had an interview at Lowe's for a loader and stock position. I have been self-employed for so long I was really nervous. I worked myself up and even though I was extremely overly qualified, I bombed bad. I went in sweating bullets and found myself fumbling my words and dragging out my answers. Needless to say, I didn't get the job and it haunted me for a week. All in all, I learned a lot from my experience and found a much better job. Slow down think and remember all they can say is no.

Wore My Easter Suit

I was totally unprepared for the interview. No one told me I should not be too bright during the interview. I confidently went into the interview wearing my Easter suit. It was a gorgeous red and white wide strip skirt suit. I was only 19 at the time and just didn't know that there was a dress code. Eventually, I did not get the job and as I look back I noticed a lot of eyes on me at the time. After everyone was interviewed - the interviewer finally came out after about 1 hour or more to greet me. He shook my hand and gave me some excuse as to why he could not interview me but he did compliment me on my suit as I walked out. I then realized it was the suit. The moral, I guess is that there is a time and place for everything. Although my suit may have been nice for Easter, it was the total opposite for an interview. There is a dress code. Dark conservative colors...navy, black, brown.

Very bad timing

I slept in after a late night, and was woken by my phone ringing at 11:30am. Without even thinking about it I answered the phone. She introduced herself and asked me if I could come in for an interview that day. I said yes but then remembered I had an appointment at the same time and quickly said "hang on, no! I have something on at that time." She said, "I'm sure you could just tell them that you will be late." My response, "um, hang on.. I'm just thinking....." She started to get very impatient and said, "so will you be able to make it or not??" At this second I only just woke up properly and had to say, "No I don't think I will, sorry." Her, "Is there another time you will be available?" Me, "I could come in tomorrow?" Her, " Right well I'll have to talk to the boss and get back to you." And then she hung up on me and I haven't heard from her since. Moral of the story: If you get a phone call that wakes you up, take a few seconds to become alert enough to speak to an employer!!

Talked Too Much

When I entered the room, the interviewer seemed to be a very mellow, down-to-earth person. My confidence increased. I started talking a lot, and he asked me about my biggest drawback, I said I don't let go of people until I am satisfied that the problem I have has been resolved to my heart's content. I was later told that I had a negative attitute and was rejected.

Say Anything Even if They Start it? NO!

My interview yesterday was one hour and 15 minutes long. I enjoyed the interview. We talked about everything -- the job, the company, my work experience, to what I did for fun, which included singing. The employer asked me what I sing, so I started naming types of music. He made references to movies he'd seen, so I mentioned some movies too. I was the first candidate interviewed. To learn from this, I won't "go there" in such detail again, even if the employer makes the first move. It is a bit tricky, because not engaging seems unfriendly, but getting too passionate about it (and being the first candidate), might cost me the job. Lunches are designed to foster this, too, so just don't open up like you are their best friend.

Too Honest

I am an honest person who feels that just because an employer wants to know something, I should be open and answer every question. This usually does NOT work. I did this yesterday, in fact. They asked why not "just stick with your current employer and continue on what you said was an 'as needed' basis?" The truth is that although this company had helped customers, it might not have been in a legal way and it is my brother's company! I found myself explaining it and explaining it. I said that he was working with another company that was being investigated and it might affect him, so I didn't know about continuing to work there. I should have said, "Because the company is in a slump right now". Too much honesty makes people wonder why you are so honest, like you are trying to hide something (ha!).

Text 15