We all know that showing up late to an interview or dressing inappropriately can ruin your chances for a job. But what about other behaviors that could unexpectedly sabotage your job interview? Don’t let it happen to you! Keep in mind these ten common subconscious mistakes that you probably don’t even know you’re making.
1. Not Shaking the Interviewer’s Hand
Problem: First impressions are vital in an interview. When meeting your interviewer for the first time, there are three faux pas that you need to avoid: not standing when she enters the room, not shaking her hand, and not looking them in the eye. Each action is disrespectful, and if you are not respectful to your interviewer, she’ll assume you won’t be respectful to your future clients.
How to Fix It: Make it a practice when you are meeting anyone for the first time. Stand, shake the person’s hand, and look them in the eye. If it’s habit for you, then you won’t even have to think about it when the time comes.
2. Bad Posture
Problem: Bad posture during an interview can give the impression that you are lazy or disrespectful. Reclining might tell the interviewer that you are bored or cocky. Slouching forward gives the impression of nervousness. If you are constantly shifting from one position to another it shows that you’re uncomfortable, which in turn can make the interviewer uncomfortable.
How to Fix It: Relax against the back of your chair. Make sure your feet are firmly planted on the floor and engage your core. Avoid sitting up too straight, as that can also make you look uncomfortable. It may sound crazy, but practice sitting at home and see how long you can hold a comfortable position without too much shifting around.
3. Too Many Long Pauses
Problem: Thinking through your answers is always a good idea, but if it takes you longer than ten seconds to start talking, you’ve passed the point of being comfortable. Taking too long to consider a question could imply that you’re mentally slow or aren’t able to handle stressful situations. You need to show that you can roll with the punches.
How to Fix It: Even if you don’t have a solid answer formulated in your head, begin with what you do know and expand on it. Once you start, talking can lead to other ideas. Just be careful not to resort to thinking out loud. Slow your speech so that you have a few seconds in between thoughts to consider ideas before you articulate them.
