Sometimes our faces and body language give away more than we’re trying to reveal, especially in a tense or nerve-wracking situation like a first job interview. In some cases, we might not even realize that our brow is furrowed or that we’re repeatedly tapping our toes much to the annoyance of a future employer.
CareerBuilder recently surveyed hundreds of different employers, asking which interview mistakes were their biggest pet peeves. Not surprisingly, most of these things were considered “the little things”—but as we all know, there’s a reason why they say it’s the little things that matter.
Acting Bored or Cocky—63 percent
Yawn! Interviews are so boring! Wow, 63 percent is a lot! While most people are undoubtedly more nervous than bored or cocky, some of the same body language tip-offs occur for both emotions. A nervous person may tap their toes repeatedly, swing their feet, or drum their fingers. Unfortunately, these signals also say “I’m soooo bored” to an employer. Boredom is also frequently interpreted as cockiness.
The Cure: Practice, practice, practice! A calm, unstressed, and interested person’s breathing is slow and steady (this may actually prove to help you get rid of the jitters, too.) Take relatively deep breaths (not the yoga class kind—you don’t want to scare the employer away) and pay attention to where your arms are. Let them rest on the arms of the chair you’re in and keep both feet on the floor, knees together, to minimize foot tapping. Leaning forward slightly can help show that you’re interested.
Not Dressing Appropriately—61 percent
For the seasoned workforce, dressing professionally may seem like a no brainer, but all too often the graduate fresh from college has lost touch with what is expected in today’s workplace. Wearing flip-flops, jeans, or basically anything but a suit says you don’t take the interviewer seriously.
The Cure: Just wear a suit. You’ll almost never go wrong! If you want to give it more pizazz and you’re applying for an artsy or creative job, dress it up with some bright or funky accessories. However, if you’re interviewing in a more formal environment like banking or law, keep your accessories very minimal.
Coming to the Interview with No Knowledge of the Company—58 percent
So … you didn’t Google search the company before you came for the interview. Big mistake. Not only do you not know what they’re selling, but you’re showing 1) ignorance, 2) laziness, and 3) lack of initiative.
