Common mistakes to avoid

[sharmila banu.m]

Common mistakes to avoid

Want to know what not to do at the job interview? Learn from the mistakes of others. Here are "18 Deadly Interview Mistakes Job Seekers Make," adapted from Drs. Caryl and Ron Krannich's 101 Dynamite Answers to Interview Questions.

What not to do:

1. Arrive late for the interview.

2. Indicate you are late because the directions you were given were not good.

3. Look disheveled and inappropriately dressed.

4. Slouch in your seat.

5. Don't maintain good eye-contact with the interviewer.

6. Do your company research at the interview by asking, "What do you guys do here?"

7. Don't make a connection between your skills and the needs of the employer.

8. Brag about how great you are, but neglect to cite evidence of your accomplishments.

9. Respond in an unfocused, disorganized, and rambling manner.

10. Remain low-key and display no enthusiasm for the job.

11. Answer most questions with simple "yes" and "no" answers.

12. Appear desperate for a job - any job.

13. Call the interviewer by his or her first name, or use the wrong name.

14. Give memorized responses, forgetting parts in the process.

15. Badmouth your current or former employer.

16. Ask "How am I doing? Are you going to hire me?"

17. Blurt out, "I need to make at least $35,000. I hope this job pays at least that much," near the beginning of the interview.

18. When asked "Do you have any questions?", reply "No."