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You can be personable, qualified, and a perfect fit, but if you blow that interview you could lose the chance for your dream job. That brief window of time is your potential employer’s chance to evaluate your skills, education, and your ability to mesh with the team.

Everyone knows to dress professionally, show up informed, and to ask questions about the position. But it’s very possible that you’re making mistakes without knowing it. Below are tips to help with day-of jitters, little-known mistakes to avoid, and huge deal-breakers you won’t believe people actually did.

Nerves

Like taking the SATs, or even batting in the World Series, the mental game is just as important as preparation beforehand. You need to be in the right state of mind to handle an interview.

Don’t let your nerves get the best of you. They are just a sign that you take the job seriously and are excited about the opportunity; so translate that energy into proactive preparation and enthusiasm.

Do take actions to mitigate the nerves: eat right, get enough sleep, or go for a walk the morning of your big day. Keep to your routine as much as you can and remember that you just need to be yourself — albeit a professional version.

No-No’s

Who hasn’t fudged a resume? Did you go from fry cook to Technical Cuisine Engineer? Lying may seem harmless, but being completely honest on your resume keeps you from slipping up during the interview.
Don’t lie about your education. No matter what kind of education credentials you’ve attained, it’s a no-no to alter your education history. Employers can verify, so don’t get caught in a lie.

Do feel free to omit jobs you weren’t particularly proud of, and be up front if you would prefer they don’t contact a previous employer for some reason. Resume fibs can come back to bite you years later, and the bigger the lie, the harder the fall. Yale’s former football coach claimed (falsely) to be a candidate for the Rhodes scholarship, forcing him to ultimately tender his resignation when the truth came to light.

Nevers

CareerBuilder called texting the number one interview mistake; being on your phone is disrespectful and shows a lack of interest in the position.

Interviewers have shared horror stories about potential candidates dressing inappropriately, or even in costume.

If you show up late, don’t tout your punctuality. Don’t, under any circumstances, act unsure about the position you’re applying for, or the name of the company.

Never get so comfortable that you swear, slip off your shoes, or divulge personal information that could make the interviewer feel awkward.
Never be too negative about a former job; venting about a bad experience can reflect poorly on your attitude and work ethic. Instead, mention a positive takeaway, like getting experience in a different field or learning to deal with new challenges.

Interviewing is tricky, but for the most part intuitive. You want to present yourself in the best light possible. If someone were to walk in randomly, they should see a candidate speaking eloquently, sitting tall, and poised to jump in.

The most important thing you can do is show through your actions and words that you are qualified, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable. Ask questions and adapt based on your interviewer’s personality and attitude. Finally, take a deep breath and remind yourself that at the end of the day, it’s just a conversation.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 28th, 2012 at 8:33 am and is filed under Career Coaching, Interview, Job Search, Salary Negotiation. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.