Career counseling experts have developed lists of job interview necessities, things that you should cover during the interview. But there are also things that you shouldn’t do during an interview. It is important to know what not to do as well as what you should do. Here are some things to steer clear of during an interview.
1. A limp handshake.
Whether it should or not, how you shake hands creates an impression on the other person. Most people interpret a limp handshake as a sign of weakness, of timidity and a lack of assertiveness. First impressions are important, people often make judgments about others within a few minutes of meeting them. So, if the handshake is weak, you have created a negative impression that you will have to work to undo, and that is not an easy task.
Make sure you grasp the interviewer’s hand firmly and look them in the eye when greeting them.
2. Sloppy dress
How you look matters. If you are not dressed neatly and professionally for the interview, this also will create a negative impression. The hiring manager will equate sloppy dress with sloppy work.
3. Answers that are too short or too long.
The interviewer wants to know about you and what you can do for his or her company. If your answers are too terse, the person is not going to learn much. He also won’t be impressed with you.
But you also need to be careful about running on too long with your answer. When you do this, you are probably giving the person more information than they want, going into unnecessary detail, or even repeating yourself.
4. Inappropriate statements
Naturally, this is open to interpretation, and you need to use common sense. Criticizing a former employer, talking about something you did that was unethical, or using profanity are all examples of inappropriate statements.
5. Focusing on the negative rather than the positive.
You need to be upbeat and enthusiastic, focusing on what can be done rather than what cannot be done, things that went right rather than things that went wrong.
If you are looking for work in the Anchorage area, Opti Staffing, one of the most well respected employment agencies in Alaska, can help you. Opti Staffing will work with you to match your skills and interests to the right job. Give Opti Staffing a call today.