4 Common Interview Mistakes to Avoid

No matter what kind of job you are applying for, facing an interview can be quite tough, especially if it’s your first one. It’s unfortunate that a large number of talented and meritorious students often end up losing job opportunities simply because of overthinking and failing to communicate with the interviewers properly. However, you can avoid these problems by preparing in advance and keeping in mind the following 4 common mistakes:
 
1.  Ignoring Research
It’s really important that you do some research about the company you are going to. One of the most common questions that the interviewers ask is “why do you want to want to work in (CompanyName)?”. So, unless you know the history of the company and the kind of products/services it offers, you may fail to answer this question properly.

2. Dressing Inappropriately
It may seem like an obvious point, but many interviewees make the mistake of showing up in an informal outfit. If you want to show that you are really interested in the job and are disciplined enough to earn it, then you must dress formally and make yourself presentable.

3. Using Negative Body Language
There are certain cues about your body language that can rub the interviewer the up wrong way. Some examples include avoiding smiling, having a weak handshake, avoiding eye contact etc. Most of these can be easily taken care of by teaching yourself to be relaxed with the help of mock interviews.

4. Not Asking Enough Questions
Many people think that an interview is a one-way street, i.e. it’s only the interviewer that asks the questions. However, that’s not true. Not only you can ask questions yourself, but it’s rather highly recommended that you do. For instance, you can ask what kind of things would be expected from you if you get the job or the kind of workplace culture the company has. The answers to these will help you decide whether the job is fit for you. It will also show that you are a decision-maker and a perceptive individual.

There are many factors that affect your chances of getting a job. While preparing for the interviews is important, you can also increase the odds further by improving your resume through a variety of post-graduate diploma courses and MBA programs. Check out Ask.Careers courses to know more.

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