5 Common Mistakes People Make on Interviews

If you’re getting interviews, congrats! You’re ahead of the curve. But if you’re not getting the offer, you’re likely doing something wrong. And I’m here to tell you what that might be.

As a recruiter, I’ve interviewed and hired 1000’s of people into roles at all levels of major organizations. Everything from the receptionist to C-Suite. I’ve also participated in countless post-interview debrief meetings with my hiring teams, where we discuss why one candidate is getting an offer and another isn’t.

And it’s competitive out there. With an abundance of candidates for most roles, employers can afford to be very selective. So just the fact that you’re getting an interview means you’re doing something right. So don’t feel down if you’re not getting to the offer. You may just need to tweak a few things to land your dream job.

I’m going to share some common mistakes people make in their interviews

Now, these are tried and true and come directly from the employer. If you’re not having success, try to analyze where you’re coming up short and put together a corrective action. You’re nearly there.

So, let’s get talk about 5 common mistakes I see people make in interviews.

Interview Mistake # 1 – Talking Too much

One of the biggest mistakes in an interview is talking too much. Usually, this is a result of nerves, or not understanding what’s being asked. Or even a lack of emotional intelligence. The candidate usually tries to answer a question in a series of unrelated, disjointed stories or examples. Oftentimes they’ll branch off into unrelated side stories. And ironically they normally don’t even answer the original question.

After several minutes of rambling, I’ll have to interrupt and refocus. Candidates who ramble often feel they need to cover all possible aspects of the question, rather than understanding what’s being asked.

I’ll say this – each question asked in an interview has a specific purpose.

We are looking to learn something very targeted about you. You’re likely not going to just happen upon the answer by covering what you THINK we want to hear.

It’s better to pause and ask the interviewer for what competency they are assessing to help you better organize your thoughts. I appreciate the self-awareness – it shows they have business acumen and awareness. And I’m always happy to clarify what we are looking for.

In general, it’s better to not give enough detail (to a point) than to give too much. A skilled interviewer will ask probing questions if they need more information. So if you feel like you’re rambling, you probably are. Don’t get yourself in trouble by talking too much!

Interview Mistake # 2 – Not being prepared

I’ve had candidates come to an interview not knowing my name, the name of the company or even the job title before. All that shows me is that they are not engaged in the process and not taking the job seriously.

It’s a bad look on them, not to mention me. If my hiring manager or an interview team connects with them and they are not prepared, it reflects poorly on the recruiter. You’ll almost never get the job if you show up unprepared.

Do your research before you get there – at the job interview is not the time to ask what the company does. Visit the website, look on Glassdoor, read the job posting carefully. Learn about the company culture. Take initiative to find out what you can.

You should also be reasonably prepared for what might be asked of you. If you’re asked a question, having some rehearsed scenarios will help with interview answers. Think of common questions and when you demonstrated those things in your career. You’ll be able to pull from these examples for a smoother interview.

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Interview Mistake #3 – Being too well rehearsed

While being prepared is certainly desirable, being too rehearsed isn’t. I’ve had candidates sit in front of me with a scripted answer for everything. They came across as inauthentic and robotic. Rehearsing your answers is fine, and in fact, encouraged. But too much of it is a bad thing.

It’s better to have a good idea of what you want to say, and some major career “story arcs” to pull from. But avoid line-by-line scripts for those common answers. You’ll sell yourself better that way. Besides, if you trip up on a script, you’re going to end up looking like a deer in headlights.

Authenticity is the key here!

Practicing is a suggested required skill, and something you should certainly do, but don’t over-rely on it! Be yourself, know what you’re selling, and speak from your past experience.

Interview Mistake # 4 – Not enough enthusiasm

Which candidate do you think an employer would rather have? A candidate that comes across sounding bored and uninterested. Or someone who’s excited by the opportunity and can’t wait to get started?

Being prepared goes a long way, but so does enthusiasm for the role you’re interviewing for. Hiring managers like people who are passionate and can add that dynamic to their teams – it’s infectious. If you’re not normally an extrovert, it’s worth practicing in the mirror before you go to the interview.

Interview Mistake # 5 – Not Asking Questions

Candidates who go through an interview and don’t ask questions of the hiring team run the risk of being perceived as not engaged. Keep in mind that interviewing should be a two-way street and you’re interviewing the company at the same time.

So come prepared with questions on things that are important to you. It will show you’re interested in the role and also help you decide if the company culture is right for you. And you’ll make a more favorable impression on those hiring teams. If you’re a job seeker and have made some of these mistakes, don’t fret. But do learn from your past mistakes and don’t repeat them. With a bit of strategy and some preparation, you’ll be on your way to landing that elusive dream job!

Be sure to check out my Youtube page for the latest tips and tricks and don’t forget to download a FREE copy of my 6 Ways To Get Noticed By Recruiters.

Let’s land you that dream job!