For Professional Women, 5 Interview Mistakes That Could Cost You the Job
Whether you are are fresh out of school or a seasoned corporate employee, the process of interviewing for a job can be an intimidating one.
Proper preparation will do plenty to calm nerves, such as researching the company you are interviewing with and brushing up on your communication skills.
However, it also helps to know some of the most common pitfalls professional women fall into that prevent them from landing their dream jobs.
Check out these five interview mistakes that professional women should avoid at all costs.
Being Late for the Interview It might be the worst traffic jam to ever hit your city, but there is no excuse for lack of punctuality.
Leave early; leave really early and bring a book to read in your car until your interview time rolls around.
Run through the route the day before if you need to, to avoid getting lost on the big day.
It is very difficult to overcome the annoyance an interviewer feels when left to wait for your arrival, no matter how amazing your interviewing skills might be.
Leaving Your Cell Phone On It is truly amazing how many professional women get calls on their cell phones during job interviews.
This shows your prospective employer that you have higher priorities than your job interview, which also indicates that you may not value your job as highly as you should.
Double and triple check your cell phone before you enter the interviewer's office to ensure you are not interrupted during your appointment.
Cracking Jokes Your spouse and your friends might find you hysterical, but it is highly unlikely that a prospective employer will find your humor as entertaining.
While you want to be positive and upbeat throughout your interview, leave your jokes for home.
However, if your interviewer cracks one during your exchange, react appropriately with an indulgent guffaw.
Badmouthing a Previous Boss You may have worked for the worst boss in the world prior to this position, but there is no reason to share that information with your employer.
If you are asked why you are seeking another position, remain positive by explaining that you are exploring new avenues or looking for different opportunities.
Never badmouth a previous boss or company, because it makes professional women look unprofessional and gossipy in the worst way.
Bringing Food or Drink to the Interview Maybe you can't live without your venti latte every morning, but a prospective employer doesn't want to see you walk into his office with a Starbucks cup attached to your hand.
Drinks increase the risk of getting something on your face or spilling on your clothing.
Even worse, you might make a mess in the office of your prospective employers.
Additionally, networking with other professional women on job interview techniques can help calm your nerves before an interview, especially if you can connect with professional women that have interviewed at the same company or with the same person.
Joining a networking group such as NAPW, The National Association of Professional Women, can help.
Professional women only get one shot to make a stellar impression on a prospective employer.
Don't get started on the wrong foot by making one of these common mistakes.
Avoid the tips listed above, and focus instead on remaining professional, positive and upbeat throughout your appointment.
You just might be on the way to landing that perfect position.
Proper preparation will do plenty to calm nerves, such as researching the company you are interviewing with and brushing up on your communication skills.
However, it also helps to know some of the most common pitfalls professional women fall into that prevent them from landing their dream jobs.
Check out these five interview mistakes that professional women should avoid at all costs.
Being Late for the Interview It might be the worst traffic jam to ever hit your city, but there is no excuse for lack of punctuality.
Leave early; leave really early and bring a book to read in your car until your interview time rolls around.
Run through the route the day before if you need to, to avoid getting lost on the big day.
It is very difficult to overcome the annoyance an interviewer feels when left to wait for your arrival, no matter how amazing your interviewing skills might be.
Leaving Your Cell Phone On It is truly amazing how many professional women get calls on their cell phones during job interviews.
This shows your prospective employer that you have higher priorities than your job interview, which also indicates that you may not value your job as highly as you should.
Double and triple check your cell phone before you enter the interviewer's office to ensure you are not interrupted during your appointment.
Cracking Jokes Your spouse and your friends might find you hysterical, but it is highly unlikely that a prospective employer will find your humor as entertaining.
While you want to be positive and upbeat throughout your interview, leave your jokes for home.
However, if your interviewer cracks one during your exchange, react appropriately with an indulgent guffaw.
Badmouthing a Previous Boss You may have worked for the worst boss in the world prior to this position, but there is no reason to share that information with your employer.
If you are asked why you are seeking another position, remain positive by explaining that you are exploring new avenues or looking for different opportunities.
Never badmouth a previous boss or company, because it makes professional women look unprofessional and gossipy in the worst way.
Bringing Food or Drink to the Interview Maybe you can't live without your venti latte every morning, but a prospective employer doesn't want to see you walk into his office with a Starbucks cup attached to your hand.
Drinks increase the risk of getting something on your face or spilling on your clothing.
Even worse, you might make a mess in the office of your prospective employers.
Additionally, networking with other professional women on job interview techniques can help calm your nerves before an interview, especially if you can connect with professional women that have interviewed at the same company or with the same person.
Joining a networking group such as NAPW, The National Association of Professional Women, can help.
Professional women only get one shot to make a stellar impression on a prospective employer.
Don't get started on the wrong foot by making one of these common mistakes.
Avoid the tips listed above, and focus instead on remaining professional, positive and upbeat throughout your appointment.
You just might be on the way to landing that perfect position.