10 Reasons Why People Fail Job Interviews
Did you feel that something went wrong during the most recent job interview but couldn't figure out what exactly? In some cases, the situation is beyond your control. For instance, the interviewer didn't like your personality or their expectations from the candidate didn't match your skills and background. However, as the practice shows, interview success mostly depends on simple things that everybody knows: being prepared, acting confidently, and showing enthusiasm. Failing interviews is rather discouraging during a job search because a job seeker feels less understood, whereas the specific job opportunity is lost forever! While in some cases failing interviews are a matter of bad luck, job candidates are frequently not prepared for interview questions.
To help you succeed in your next job interview, our creative resume writers have collected the ten popular reasons for failed interviews. Check these reasons out and act oppositely to leave a positive impression and skyrocket the chances of getting the job. Boost your interviewing skills, read a job description in detail, and be prepared for an interview process. You can even do a mock interview with a friend to feel more confident and practice how to present yourself for a good impression.
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Top 10 reasons why job seekers fail job interviews
1. Not researching the company in advance
Researching a company is as easy as pie. However, the impressive 47% of job-seekers come to an interview knowing little or nothing about the business. And when asked what you know about the company, mumbling and telling something vague like “Well… your company is the state's biggest shoe retailer…and…” is the last thing you want to do. Spend at least 15 minutes browsing the company website and looking through the news about the company and industry in general. This will allow you to speak to the interviewer on an equal footing. If you can discuss the company's future prospects and industry situation, it will definitely impress the person interviewing you.
2. Dressing unprofessionally
If you enter the office wearing flip-flops, shorts, or a top that doesn't leave much to the imagination, don't be surprised when the interviewer doesn't call you back. People in professional settings make impressions about us based on what we wear. The inappropriate clothes signal that a person knows little about professional etiquette or isn't a cultural fit. The idea of professional attire today varies from company to company. However, you can assume the desired dress code based on the industry and what you've found on their website. Dress on a conservative side of what is appropriate in the company just to demonstrate that you care of the job enough to dress up. This recommendation is particularly important for a final interview! Of course, it is not required to dress professionally if you have a phone interview.
3. Running late
There can be dozens of reasons why you didn't make it on time – and neither is a good excuse. This reason alone puts you below other candidates for an interviewer. They start perceiving you as poorly organized, irresponsible, or not interested in the job. Needless to say when you head into the office nervous and sweaty you'll find it a lot harder to concentrate and impress the interviewer. Leave for an interview in advance. If you arrive too early, you can wait in the nearest Starbucks or simply walk around. You'll also have plenty of time to review your notes and focus on the upcoming interview. A good interview starts on time!
4. Not prepared to answer basic questions
In most cases, you can't know in advance in what direction the interview will go. However, telling about yourself, your strengths and weaknesses, future plans and your most recent job are part of every job interview. If you get nervous or start stumbling on your words, the employer will see that you failed to prepare. Or, they might also suspect that you are hiding something. Prepare good responses to these questions at home. If you lack inspiration, Google has plenty of answers. No need to turn your answers into success stories – being up to the point and sincere is often enough. By the way, trying to stretch the truth in your resume to get an interview isn't worth it as it can damage your reputation. You may be asked about your former boss, relevant experience, skill set, or even a technical question. You need to answer questions without hesitation.
5. Showing bad manners or poor etiquette
Did you bring a cup of coffee to go for an interview, take a seat before they had offered, or yawn like you hadn't had enough sleep? Or maybe, your phone rang in the middle of the interview and you excused yourself to take a call? Good manners aren't everything, yet they force the interviewer to assume a lot of negative things about you. They think you aren't organized, don't know even the basics of business etiquette, or simply don't bother. Neither of these assumptions will help you get the job. Talking negatively is a huge red flag! Want to know which exact manners turn the hiring managers off? Read more about bad interview habits here: https://resumeperk.com/blog/10-forbidden-habits-during-job-interview.
6. Weak body language
Since people perceive most of the information non-verbally, the interviewer is likely to form the impression about you before you start answering their questions. One of the huge deal-breakers for job-seekers is body language. Bad posture, weak handshake, and sitting in a closed or too casual position can spoil all the attempts to look confident. Before you enter the office for an interview, practice confident body language: give a firm handshake, smile, and maintain eye contact. Avoid crossing your legs and arms. Speak positively and confidently. The right body language along with appropriate attire can make a great impression even before the interview starts. Even if you have a good answer to every question during interviews, you still need to build rapport and show you are a good fit with corporate culture!
7. Not selling yourself
Being too modest isn't the best interview tactic. The interviewer actually expects you to show off your previous contributions and accomplishments. Otherwise, they'll assume that you haven't done anything impressive or significant. On the other hand, avoid meaningless bragging like “I was the best software engineer in my previous company and the boss was happy with my work”. Instead, say “My students get high SAT scores and enter the Ivy League schools” or “I identified a software bug prior to release, saving thousands of dollars in product-replacement costs”. Whatever you are proud of in your career, brag about it – but give the recruiter facts rather than interpretations. If you don't plan your career, it's high time you started – check out the benefits of career planning. Just keep in mind that you still need to be honest and explain any gaps or inconsistencies in your resume. Most people are not selling themselves to recruiters. When you realize your worth, conduct research on the industry, and have a clear story to tell, you have all the chances of getting a good job! The best self during interviews!
8. Forgetting to ask questions during a job interview
As they say, an interview is a two-way street. So, when they ask if you have any questions in mind, avoid saying no or inquiring about salary and perks. A candidate who doesn't have any questions is seen as unmotivated and uninterested in a position. This isn't the impression you are looking to make; so prepare the list of questions in advance in case you get nervous and nothing comes to mind during an interview. The best types of questions to ask are about how to be successful in the role, how a typical day looks like, or what it's like to work for the company. For sample questions to end the interview with, see here: https://resumeperk.com/blog/top-15-questions-to-end-the-interview-with.
9. Speaking about personal issues
Personal problems and issues don't belong to an interview. If you are going through a divorce or urgently need money to pay the bills, keep these conversations for friends and family. Also, avoid washing dirty linen in public when it comes to talking about relationships in the previous company. Even if you had a fight with the boss or the colleagues were toxic, avoid bringing it up in the interview. If the interviewer asks why you left the previous company, keep calm and answer on a positive note. Don't mention any misunderstanding and don't badmouth the previous employer.
10. Not sending a thank-you note after a job interview
To stay top of mind for an interviewer, send a follow-up reiterating the main points of the interview and repeat once again why you make a good candidate. Send it the same day as soon as you get home or in the evening. Keep the note short – 2-3 paragraphs would be sufficient. This simple courtesy will also set you apart from other people interviewed for the same position. Did you know that 90% of candidates don't bother to send a thank-you email? So, if you do, it will immediately increase your chances of getting a job offer.
The above-mentioned reasons lead to failed interviews quite often, so now you know what to avoid in the next interview to pass it with brilliance. Last but not least: keep the interview on a positive note. Show enthusiasm in a company, position, and the conversation with the interviewer. Keeping confident and motivated always makes a great impression. Hopefully, these tips will help you become more skillful in interacting with interviewers!
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