Mistakes to avoid during the job interview process

By Ken Pelczarski, Contributing Editor | TLT Career Coach November 2023

Following interview etiquette will strengthen your standing as a candidate and improve your chances of getting a job offer.

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It is the goal in any job interview to do well in all stages of the process, including preparation, first impression, primary discussions, closing and follow-up. To increase the chances of receiving a job offer, it is as much about avoiding key mistakes as it is about saying and doing many of the right things.

If you have a great deal of job interview experience, it will lessen the possibility of making important mistakes. Whether it is your first interview or your hundredth, however, it is critical to do extensive prepa - ration and go into the interview with a positive mindset. This approach should ensure that you avoid the many things that can go wrong in an interview. 

INTERVIEW MISTAKES AND HOW TO AVOID THEM 
Some interview mistakes are outright blunders while others are missed opportunities. The mistakes described below are listed sequentially in the order of when they are likely to occur during the interview process. 

• Not researching the company. In my July 2016 survey of several hundred lubricant industry professionals for my TLT Career Coach column, I asked, “What is your biggest pet peeve with job candidates during the interview process that might even remove the candidate from further consideration?” Among the 47 hiring managers who responded to the survey, the biggest pet peeve by far was lack of preparation (e.g., not researching the company or industry). Researching the company will give you an excellent basis for asking questions and also can provide extra motivation for you to pursue the opportunity. 

Research various aspects of the company such as profitability, competitive standing, recent growth history, product innovation and top management. It should become evident quickly that you have done extensive research, but make sure the interviewer knows that.  

• Not researching interview participants. It is a missed opportunity if you do not do research on the expected interview participants. You might discover interesting facts about individuals, including things you have in common with members of the interview team. Employers will notice if you have done this research and will appreciate it. 

Request an interview agenda in advance with the names of interview participants. Be sure to research the profiles of these individuals on LinkedIn. In addition, do research through the company website, industry articles, search engines and your professional network. 

• Not studying the job description carefully. Employers will expect you to have reviewed the job description and have a good understanding of the job responsibilities before the interview takes place. Also, you need to understand the role so you can promote your relevant skill set and sell the reasons that you are interested in the job. 

Read and study the job description several times. Formulate your questions for the employer based upon your review. 

• Showing up late to the interview. Showing up late to a job interview is a certain way to make a bad first impression. Only a true emergency will be immediately forgiven by the employer. 

Be sure to have reliable driving directions ahead of time. Consider taking a dry run if you are not at all familiar with the area. Aim to arrive at least 15 minutes early. Announce yourself five to 10 minutes before the scheduled interview time. Call ahead if you think you may be late. 

• Not signing in early on your computer or cell phone (virtual interviews). Many things can go wrong when you sign in for a virtual job interview. You may have difficulty with the software or discover that you have sound or lighting issues. It will be impossible, obviously, to interview without sound. Improper lighting may interfere with the employer’s ability to read your facial expressions and body language. If you are late for a virtual interview, you may have difficulty recovering from the bad first impression you will be making with the employer. 

Attempt to sign in 15-30 minutes ahead of the scheduled interview time to be able to correct any technical issues. Sign in earlier if you are unfamiliar with the technology being used. 

• Not choosing a location with no distractions (virtual interviews). You will need 100% focus to make your best impression in an interview. Anything that takes your attention away from the discussion could hurt your chances of receiving a job offer. An employer will notice if you are not fully engaged in the conversation. 

Arrange to interview in a quiet setting without any obvious distractions. Ensure that any nearby family, friends and/or colleagues realize that you are in a job interview. Avoid interviewing while on the road. 

• Having an unprofessional interview background (virtual interviews). Employers may get the idea that professionalism is not a high priority for you when participating in important events such as a job interview. An unprofessional setting will likely leave a lasting negative impression on employers since they will be staring at the background through the entire interview. 

Arrange for a virtual interview in an office setting if possible. A wall map or bookshelves are examples of professional backgrounds. Avoid backgrounds with clutter or ones with items that display political or religious content. 

• Not bringing pertinent documents to the interview. It is customary to bring your resume at the very least to a job interview. It is a missed opportunity if you do not bring other relevant documents as well. Bringing additional documents to the interview will display your preparation and your enthusiasm for the opportunity. 

Bring enough copies of your resume for each interview participant. In addition, bring other documents that could potentially substantiate points you are making. Consider bringing a publication and patent list, samples of written skills, documentation of education and certifications, commendation letters and/or a list of references. 

• Not wearing appropriate attire. This may be the first thing that employers notice about you and is a crucial part of making a great first impression. Employers will believe that this is generally how you dress and present yourself in important meetings. 

If possible, learn the expected attire ahead of time. Clear in advance if you need to dress casually. Always err on the side of overdressing. 

• Wearing gaudy jewelry or accessories. Employers will likely be distracted in a negative way. They may make a quick and inaccurate judgement about you. 

Wear tasteful and widely accepted kinds of jewelry and accessories. Err on the conservative side. Avoid nose rings and tattoos. 

• Not making consistent eye contact. Eye contact is a significant way of showing the employer that you are fully engaged in the conversation. Without consistent eye contact, an employer may assume that you are not enthusiastic about the opportunity. 

Frequent, but not constant, eye contact is usually best received by the employer. Making consistent eye contact will allow you to better read the facial expressions, gestures and body language of the interviewer. 

• Not maintaining good posture. Your body language says a lot about you. If you are not sitting erect and are frequently slouching, an employer may think you are lazy or not engaged in the discussion. 

Always be aware of your body language and positioning. Correct yourself quickly if you are slumping without your head erect. 

• Not displaying a positive attitude. In my July 2016 survey of several hundred lubricant industry professionals for my TLT Career Coach column, I asked, “Which three qualities are typically most important to you in a job candidate?” Among the 47 hiring managers who responded to the survey, a positive attitude was mentioned third most out of 36 possible choices of important qualities. People generally do not want to be around others with negative attitudes. On a larger scale, negative attitudes are known to be bad for company morale. 

Try to put a positive spin on all items being discussed. Give examples of how your positive attitude has rubbed off on colleagues and has helped you follow through on projects until successful completion. 

• Not silencing your cell phone. This is a big oversight and can be embarrassing if your cell phone rings during the interview. It also may distract you and throw off your train of thought in a key moment. 

Make it a habit to silence your cell phone before important meetings. Practice silencing your phone far ahead of the interview time. Make a note for yourself if you often forget to silence your phone. 

• Being overly focused on taking notes. If you are too busy making notes, you may miss important dialogue. Also, an employer will likely notice that you are not sufficiently focused on the discussion. 

Put away the paper and pen and pull it out only to take notes on an important point or two. 

• Dominating the conversation. Employers will become frustrated quickly if they are not able to ask many questions or respond to you because you are talking 90% of the time. If you do not spend much time listening, you will not learn much and you will not be doing your due diligence in evaluating the opportunity. 

Be conscious of attempting to keep the discussion at about 50% talking and 50% listening. Stay relaxed and engaged. Catch yourself if you start elaborating too much or going off on tangents. Before elaborating on a point, ask the employer if they want more information or details. 

• Not being 100% honest about your credentials. Employers are likely to recognize inconsistencies in your statements. You will be confronted and possibly rejected for the position if an employer suspects that you have lied. If the employer has already hired you, your job may be in jeopardy if lies are discovered after you have begun employment. 

It is a good policy to be 100% honest in a job interview and on your resume. Be prepared to discuss undesirable aspects of your background but always maintain an honest approach. 

• Bad-mouthing a former employer or boss. This is a cardinal sin. Employers frown upon bad-mouthing. They often equate it with a negative attitude or with you being a difficult individual. Employers want to see you being the “bigger person” and moving on and learning from dealing with challenging people or situations. 

Explain negative situations factually, not subjectively or emotionally. Be careful about being too critical. Explain in simple terms why a company or boss was not right for you. 

• Not asking good questions. It is a missed opportunity to not ask as many questions as possible in a job interview. You will learn a lot by asking good questions. In addition, employers measure your interest level by how many and what type of questions you ask. 

Prepare your most important questions in advance of the interview. Also, ask follow-up questions throughout the interview. It is usually a good idea to ask the same questions of multiple interviewers so you can compare their answers. Finally, always be ready to ask a couple of key questions at the end of the interview to learn more and to show your continued interest. 

• Not being thorough in evaluating the employer. You will increase the likelihood of long-term employment with a new employer by learning as much as possible in the interview about the job and the company. A wide range of unpleasant surprises can occur after beginning employment if you have not done the proper due diligence. 

Ask many good questions during the interview process. Learn more about the company also by talking to the employer’s customers, suppliers, competitors and your colleagues. 

• Not stressing relevant accomplishments. Employers strive to hire individuals with a history of success, and past success is an excellent predictor of future success. 

Regularly maintain a list of your proudest accomplishments. Determine which achievements are most relevant to the position at hand. Be ready to explain in the interview how you achieved these successes in specific instances. 

• Not displaying passion for your career. Employers recognize that passion increases motivation and, in turn, increases your chances of success. Passion also tends to raise the morale of coworkers around you. Finally, passion means that you will likely be staying on your current career path for a long time. 

Express to the employer the reasons you are passionate about your career. Emphasize the types of long-term goals you have on this career path. 

• Not expressing interest in the job and the company. Employers need to know that you want the job, not just that you can do the job. Half of the battle in the interview is promoting your interest in the job and the company, and the other half of the battle is proving your capabilities. 

Stress to the employer that you can envision yourself in the job and being consistently satisfied and challenged. Describe the main reasons for your interest. Convey that the position is an excellent and logical next step for your career. 

• Not explaining the value and benefit you bring to the employer. Employers need to know that you will thrive in the job, make a difference and be a positive influence. They like to hear specifics about how you can impact the bottom line. 

Focus heavily on your accomplishments that relate to the job. Quantify the level of success you expect to achieve in the position. 

• Not emphasizing how the position fits your short and long-term goals. Employers want to learn about both short and long-term personal goals. They may ask why you think their company can potentially meet those goals. It also is important for employers to believe that you will probably still be with them a few years from now. 

Describe several ways in which you see the employer being able to meet your short and long-term goals. 

• Placing too much focus on compensation. Employers are usually turned off by a job candidate who focuses on compensation. They want to hire somebody who is interested primarily in the job, achieving company objectives and personal challenge and satisfaction. Employers will not be able to tell you how much they are paying because they will not even know your worth until the interview is completed. It is generally frowned upon for a candidate to bring up salary during a job interview. 

Refrain from asking about salary in the interview. Benefits are generally taboo as well, especially in the early stages of the interview. If the employer asks about your desired compensation, keep your answer simple and brief and emphasize that you want to focus on the mutual fit between you and the company. It is usually well received to state that you have a successful track record and that you hope to prove to the employer that you are worth a salary in the top part of their ideal range. 

• Not closing the interview strong. Employers usually look for a candidate’s final questions and thoughts toward the end of the interview. You may have had an excellent interview up until that time, and it would be a shame to have a weak closing. Employers may separate top candidates by who closes the strongest. 

Briefly summarize your interest and your pertinent skill set. Do not miss the opportunity to sell yourself to the fullest based upon what was discussed during the interview. 

• Not asking for feedback on your candidacy. Employers will often be non-committal but will usually be happy to provide feedback if you ask for it. When you receive feedback, you will be able to confront any issues brought up by the employer. You also can reinforce your strengths as mentioned by the employer. Finally, you will know better what to focus on when you follow up. 

Ask if the employer sees any reason not to pursue you further. Attempt to learn where you stand among other candidates. Ask if you can provide any additional information that will help the employer evaluate you and keep things moving. 

• Not asking about the next step and when to expect to hear from the employer. If you ask about the next step, you will better understand the interview process and when to follow up. You also will know how to manage other job leads and interviews. 

Describe to the employer the ideal timing for you to make a job move. Ask if this timing works well for them. Inform the employer if you have other pending job offers. Emphasize your interest in staying in communication with the employer. 

• Not following up promptly and consistently. Employers realize that a candidate who follows up shortly after the interview is likely quite interested in the job. Most employers will appreciate multiple follow-up communications as long as you remain brief and professional.

Find out at the close of the interview who you should follow up with and how soon. Email a thank you note ideally 24-48 hours after the interview. Proceed to follow up regularly in accordance with the hiring timing that the employer has described. Follow up also anytime you have important new information to provide. 

• Not being ready to state why the employer should hire you. Employers are looking to hire candidates who are not only capable but also highly motivated. An employer will likely listen closely while you are highlighting the main reasons that they should hire you. 

Ask for the job if you know that you want it. Express why the employer will likely not find a better candidate than you. 

You do not need to have a perfect interview to receive a job offer. There are inevitably questions you will forget to ask, or things you wish you would have said differently. The key to a great job interview is to avoid major blunders and a high volume of minor mistakes as well as the interview taboos listed in this article. 

Ken Pelczarski is owner and founder of Pelichem Associates, a Chicago-area search firm established in 1985 and specializing in the lubricants industry. You can reach Ken at (630) 960-1940 or at pelichem@aol.com.