Career Advice

Finding the perfect job or switching careers is not always easy. Many common mistakes are made because candidates are out of practice when it comes to interviewing. Below is a list of the top “Don’ts” to keep in mind when preparing for an interview:

• Don’t arrive late for an interview. It is a good rule of thumb to arrive at least 10 - 15 minutes early, but do not arrive more than 15 minutes early.
• Don’t ask the interviewer to tell you about the position or company. It is your responsibility to do as much research as possible to make a fantastic first impression.
• Don’t ask questions until you are invited to do so; interrupting the Recruiter/Hiring Manager may come across as pushy or aggressive.
• Don’t inquire about salary, work hours, vacation or benefits; at least not during the first interview and in some cases the second.
• Don’t exaggerate your previous experience or skills.
• Don’t sound confused about where you are heading; provide a clear understanding of your career goals.
• Don’t yawn or stare out the window.
• Don’t leave your cell phone on or answer it during an interview. (Turn it off before the interview or don’t bring it at all).
• Don’t discuss your personal life or negative things that may be going on.
• Don’t talk negatively about a previous employer.
• Don’t post inappropriate materials to your social networking site. Sometimes Recruiters access these sites to learn more about candidates. It is important to keep your profile looking extremely professional.
• Don’t forget to thank the interviewer before you leave and shake their hand.
• Don’t forget to ask the interviewer, “What are the next steps in the hiring process?”
• Don’t forget to send a thank you note or letter to everyone you met.

Keep in mind that landing an interview is not easy, so make sure to devote time to interview preparation. More specifically, focus on researching the company and position you are interviewing for and review the top don’ts of an interview process. Adequate interview preparation will help contribute to a successful interview.