C A R E E R’ S
5 Avoidable Job Interview Mistakes You Probably Have No
Idea You’re Making
J
ob interviews are an intimidating but necessary part
of the job search process, as they allow potential
employers to get a sense of how you’ll fit at their
company and give you the opportunity to see how you
really feel about a company. But what if your job interview doesn’t go exactly as planned? Luckily, plenty of
other people have been there. Five professionals are
breaking down their most avoidable job interview mistakes and what they learned from them. And once you’re
done, you’ll be able to put your best foot forward every
time:
1. Bashing A Previous Employer
My biggest job interview mistake was when I was trying
to move on from my first job out of college. Like many
new grads, I had taken the first position that paid a salary and was remotely connected to my degree, and after
six months, I was more than ready to move on. I somehow landed an interview at a well-known media website,
and when the hiring manager asked me why I wanted
to leave my current job, I unloaded everything I hated
about the [previous] company and its management. I
knew it was wrong (You never bash an employer during
an interview!), but I was so fed up with the place that I
couldn’t seem to stop myself from ranting. The interviewer could tell I was pretty young and was kind about the
situation, and even sympathized with my plight. But, she
ended the interview noting that I ‘might not be ready’ for
this job. She said I should take some time to think about
what I really wanted in my career, rather than trying to
take any job as an escape route. That advice always
stuck with me, and now I’m in a job I love because of it.
Nicole File this under huge career no-nos. Never badmouth previous or present employers. It never turns out
well for the person talking trash, and it says way more
about you than it does about the company you’re ranting
about.
2. Not Researching Direct Supervisors Beforehand
When I was just out of college and looking for my first job
in New York while still living in Georgia, I had a phone
interview for an executive assistant position, where I
would have been directly reporting to two editors in particular. When my interviewer, a person in HR, asked me
what I knew about the editors I’d be working under, I
didn’t have anything to say because I hadn’t researched
them AT ALL. I spent more time reading about the history of [the company] and its modern editorial content,
which was fine, but really not that related to the position
I was interviewing for. I stumbled through some kind of
answer, but it was really embarrassing, and I didn’t have
a second interview. Basically, I learned I need to pay
more attention to the job description/specifics, not the
company in general. (Although, that’s definitely ALWAYS
a plus.) Also, to plan for the job I’m actually interviewing
for, not the job that I maybe wish I was interviewing for).
And always research the person you’re interviewing with
and the person who will be your direct supervisor, if you
can.
46 | BOOM