Having worked in HR and management roles in the corporate world, I’ve been on the opposite side of the interview table on many occasions. Now I coach women to get them ready for the important event. It’s amazing how the most talented people can struggle with selling themselves at interview. In fact, many of the best people are out there doing a great job, not talking about it.
As a result, I’ve seen many good and not so good things being done. This is your one shot to land the job you really want. There are so many ways you can help yourself, get your preparation right and the interview can be an enjoyable experience. One thing’s for sure, it’s crucial you’re not making these common mistakes that WILL hold you back:
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The creepy handshake –
I’ve been on the receiving end of this on a few occasions. I’m sorry but it can be hard to recover from. Creepy handshakes include limp, damp, the hand on top, the hand pat, over lengthy, too strong, too much pump…the list could go on. Here’s what you need to do, practice your handshake on someone who will give you honest feedback. Don’t assume yours is ok. I’m sure everyone who creeped me out at interview did too!
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Slag off a previous employer –
It is NEVER acceptable to bad mouth a company or manager you’ve worked for previously. It doesn’t matter how awful they were. You need to find a diplomatic way to express certain challenges or issues. Far from reflecting badly on your old employer, you show yourself to be disloyal and untrustworthy. If one of your examples involves something particularly contentious, run it past someone else. Find a way to express it that isn’t super-critical. And deliver it in a way that demonstrates how you overcame the challenges and complexities of the situation.
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Poor posture and fidgeting –
Your posture sends a subconscious message to the interview panel about your attitude. If you slump or are too laid back, the impression won’t be good. Equally, if you fidget a lot it’s a real tell about nerves and lack of confidence. Whilst some nerves are to be expected, as an interviewer, I want to employ someone I can trust has the confidence to do the job. There’s a couple of simple fixes for this. Firstly, when you sit down, take a moment to get your posture right. Put both feet flat on the floor. Sit up straight, with your buttocks at the back of the chair. Zip up your core from the hip, breathe deeply into your stomach and focus on being strong. Shoulders back. A slight lean forward will indicate that you are proactive. Gently rest your hands on the desk or in your lap in a loose clasp. Check in on your posture and hands regularly.
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Using ‘we’ instead of ‘I’ –
this is something a lot of people struggle with. It’s understandable, we often complete work as a team. The best advice I was given was that you are the representative of the team in this instance, therefore you have permission to say I where you were involved. That’s not to say you claim work you weren’t involved in or aren’t capable of doing! But the interviewers don’t want to hear what the team did. They want to know how you take the lead and add value.
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Speaking in the passive voice –
This is where the subject of the sentence is acted on by the verb e.g. ‘the project was completed by the team’, or ‘the productivity was improved by changing the process’. The effect for the listener is that it sounds like everything has happened by magic, with no involvement by you. Instead, you need to be talking from your perspective and how your actions influenced the results. E.g. ‘I lead the team to…’, ‘I identified opportunities to speed up the process and implemented…’
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Saying ‘I don’t know’ –
Of course, there are times when you may not know the answer to a question, so it’s best to be prepared for this scenario. Firstly, ask for the question to be repeated, and ask for clarification on the question. If you can’t think of a specific example that relates directly, is there something similar? Think it through out loud and be theoretical…firstly I would, secondly.., thirdly…, finally…’. This might give you the time for a real-life example to spring to mind. If you are still drawing a real blank, then say something like ‘the right example isn’t coming to mind right now, would it be possible to come back to it later?’
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Dressing inappropriately –
I know this is obvious but I still see it happening. Even if the industry you work in is more casual, it’s still important to show you’ve made an effort. I would always err on the side of professional and dress up rather than down. The absolute best advice on what to wear will come from someone who works there, so check out who you know, or who your friends know that work there. A suit, a dress, a smart jacket, will generally fit the bill. Make sure your shoes are literally well-heeled and clean. Makeup is (annoyingly) advisable, but keep it classic and well polished! Go easy on perfume and aftershave.
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Not making eye contact –
Passing an interview relies a lot on your body language, as it’s a key tool in building trust and conveying confidence. Making eye contact is an important part of this. You will likely spend a lot of the interview looking at the tops of peoples heads as they make notes, but when they look up, make sure you look at your interviewers. Speak to all of them. If you struggle with eye contact, practice with family or friends. If there’s an underlying reason why you struggle with eye contact, such as being on the autistic spectrum, it can be easier to look at the person’s forehead or bridge of the nose. Here are a few other interview tips that may help you
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Ask about salary –
Wait for the salary discussion to be raised by the employer, rather than raise it yourself. Bringing money into the discussion too soon can imply that your priorities are entirely financially focused. Salary discussions really belong after the offer of employment, and then it should be about negotiation. If you are asked the salary question, it is advisable to suggest a range that is within the market average for your profession. Make sure that range doesn’t start too low! If you are offered the lower amount, negotiate and remember to look at benefits too.
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Go off on major tangents and not answering the question –
This is really frustrating for the interviewer, especially when you don’t answer the question. Ask if you can note the question down if you think that will keep your mind focussed. If that’s not an option, repeat the question (internally or externally), and think about what it is they’re asking and will want to hear in the answer. Select your best example and demonstrate your knowledge and experience. If you feel yourself wandering off, pause, reflect on the question (or ask for it to be repeated), and bring it back. Better to change direction than carrying on into the rabbit hole and get lost completely.
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Know nothing about the company you’re applying for –
You need to do more than have a quick glance at their website. When asked ‘what do you know about us/ what we do’, you want to sound informed and enthusiastic about the place. Do your research. Check out news reports. Speak to people who work there if you can. Look for their competitors and what they’re doing. Look into advances in the industry. And most of all, understand what it is they do/ they produce/ and how well they’re doing at it. How does the role you’re applying for fit in? What will you bring to it?
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Not believing in yourself –
Of course, this is of the utmost importance. If you don’t believe in yourself it will come across in the interview. Many of the women I coach are suffering confidence challenges, so something I get them to do is keep a journal of what they did well, and how they added value. Make it part of your daily habits. It will shift your focus from being critical to recognise your worth. When preparing for an interview you can use this information you’ve logged and draw on the confidence it has given you. If you haven’t been doing it, review your career history and ask for each role/ project/ challenge, what wouldn’t have happened if I wasn’t there? When we can see where we add value we start to value ourselves more.
Avoiding these pitfalls and following the tips will definitely improve your success at interview. You got this! To speak to me about interview coaching, contact sineads@genwomen.global
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Sinead is the Founder of Generation Women and is a Career and Leadership Coach. She has almost 20 years’ experience in developing leaders in global corporates. Her passion for helping others excel in their careers has resulted in her clients landing the jobs they want, being headhunted, and stepping up into leadership with confidence. She’s the Director of Leadership Development for Lean In Northern Ireland and a passionate advocate for equality.
Sinead’s signature coaching programme is Rise and Shine Career Design, which is her ultimate career accelerator. She currently has a waiting list for her September programme, book a call to speak with her to get on the list.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sinead-sharkey/