Don’t Sabotage Your Own Job Interview
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So many people are looking for work now in this economy.
Many employers have the advantage when trying to fill a position. People are looking for something long term where they can grow and develop and the good news is that there are places like that.
My husband's company is growing and they are hiring. They've been having interviews for a few departments and lately they've been having some memorable candidates.
Not memorable in a good way, but instead in how unprepared they were.
Sometimes I thought he was joking – I couldn't believe someone would go in for a mid-level position and not be ready.
Others made me wonder where did they find these candidates.
Review Your Resume for the Job Interview
One of the first impression you can make is with your resume.
What you put on there can get scrutinized before, during, and after the interview.
Some mistakes that applicants have made include:
- Copy and Paste: What's worse than not personalizing your resume for a particular job? How about just copy and pasting job descriptions? Want to make it even better – how about copy and pasting the same thing, over and over on your resume?
- Check your spelling and grammar. Sounds easy with office software including tools for such matters, but it slips in. what's worse is that some people have several spelling and grammar mistakes.
Go ahead and check your resume before you head for your next interview. Read it out loud and have someone else review it just to double check.
Prepare for the Job Interview
When you're sitting in front of the interviewer(s), understand that you're one step closer to getting a job.
This is your opportunity to shine. you want them to see how you can succeed in the position and that you're a team player.
- Know the position you're applying for and review the job responsibilities. Expect to be asked a question to demonstrate that you know what the job entails. If you're a software developer, brush up on on the basics.
- Know the company and its mission. While you may not always have time to do a detailed analysis for every company, you should prepare the best you can. Understand the industry and how the company fits into it. Be able to articulate how you can help the company reach its financial goals.
Don't wing it; it's a waste of your time and a waste for the company's time. Instead of just putting out your resume everywhere and seeing what sticks, focus on jobs you really want.
Thoughts on Job Interviews
What shocked me about some of his stories was how these applicants weren't recent college graduates just starting their careers. These are supposed to be seasoned veterans, looking to move up in their own career ladder.
Have you ever sat in an interview and were surprised by the candidates' lack of preparation?
I’ve never sat in on an interview as a panelist but I’ve certainly gone on my fair share of interviews. I could not imagine not preparing, coming professionally dressed, being punctual (usually early!), and all that jazz. I wonder if these seasoned veterans are overconfident that their experience will stand on its own merits and they don’t have to go that extra step.
One thing I have found helps with the grammar aspect is to re-type your resume. You don’t have to format it, but if you look at it and re-type it word-for-word, you might catch something here and there.
I would also look to make sure formatting is consistent.
In weird circumstances I’ve been interviewing for candidates to become my boss (strange) but again I’ve been flabbergasted at how ill prepared some candidates have been. For some it’s completely evident that they haven’t even read the company’s website, which is just unforgivable.
When recruiting for staff writers for the blog, I’ve also received some truly terrible covering letters. I’m talking no capitalisation of proper nouns, spelling the blog’s name incorrectly and no idea that the blog is based in the UK- fundamental stuff here!
As a former executive, I have seen many people ill prepared for interviews in how they were dressed, groomed and their knowledge of the company and position. When I was interviewing for a position, I also saw inexperienced interviewers ask some of silliest questions. The interviewing process is twofold, the candidate is screened, but the employer needs to impress the candidate. I have turned down offers from companies that failed to adequately answer my questions.
Some of the things I hear out of interviews are just startling – I’ve been on some interviews where I was under qualified, but still have been prepared for the interview. It doesnt take that long, and obviously reaps massive rewards.
It is amazing to me how many people have horrendous grammatical skills, awful spelling, and such a lack of vocabulary. How did they make it through college? It’s pathetic.
It’s sad to see how many basic errors get made in resumes and interviews. So easy to fix and prevent, and yet so very harmful to the applicant.
I interview people for very entry level positions, and I’m continually amazed at some of the things they do. Resumes with bootyliciousgrrl@domain.com at the top (actually happened), spelling mistakes, goofy generic objectives (“Find a job were I can use my educashion”), showing up for the interview looking like they just rolled out of bed… If people can’t make an effort, I figure they don’t want the job very much.