Most common interview mistakes you should avoid

Congratulations, you have landed a major job interview! You take the time to polish up your CV, pick the perfect outfit and read up about the company. Now all you need to do is go nail that interview. Piece of cake, right? Wrong! Unless you are truly prepared to avoid the most common interview mistakes that people make, your chances are still 50-50.

Since your body language plays a big role in helping you land that job, you need to read more here. Otherwise, you might end up betting on a losing horse!

Interview mistakes to avoid:

• Failing to maintain eye contact

Eye contact is one of the best ways to establish trust between you and the person in front of you. When you fail to maintain eye contact, it makes you seem insecure and untrustworthy. Take the time to practice eye contact with a friend or a family member to help you feel more comfortable about maintaining it throughout your interview.

• Fidgeting

One of the ways people handle stress is by fidgeting. However, playing with your hair, constantly touching your face or other fidgeting behaviors make the interviewer feel that you are unprepared or worried about the interview. To avoid fidgeting, keep your hands in front of you or on your lap when you are quiet without being too stiff or rigid.

See Also: What Should You Consider Before Working at a Startup?

• Forgetting to smile

Seeing other people smile helps us create mutually positive experiences. When you are in an interview and you do not smile, the interviewer might feel that you are unhappy or even unfriendly. This can negatively reflect on the outcome of the interview. Force yourself to smile every now and then and see how it can make you feel more relaxed and at ease.

• Having a weak handshake

A good handshake can tell a lot about a person. If your handshake is limp, chances are you will be seen as unimpressive or untrustworthy. Practice your handshake with friends with a complete grip and firm squeeze while continuously maintaining eye contact.

See Also: 15 Ways to Deserve & Earn More Respect 

• Slouching

Slouching is usually a sign of low self-confidence. When you slouch during a job interview, the interviewer might question your ability to do your role effectively. To avoid slouching, plant your feet firmly on the floor, push your hips all the way back into your chair and straighten your back on the back of the chair.

• Crossing your arms

Arms crossing is a surefire way to make the person interviewing you feel that you are stressed, defensive and anxious. What you should do instead is make an effort to keep your arms apart at all times. Moreover, remember to gesture naturally while you speak.

• Too much nodding

When you nod too much during an interview makes you seem like you are not really listening or that you do not understand what is being said to you. When you are unsure about something, ask and don’t nod. Also, keep nodding to a minimum.

Bonus Tips: To make a good impression, make sure that you mirror the interviewer, show that you are listening and keep your posture tall when entering and exiting the interview room.

What other interview mistakes do you think are important to mention? We look forward to your input in the comment section below. 

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