Job Interviews: 5 Job Interview Mistakes You Should Avoid Making

If you are looking for a job, you may have to endure dozens of job interviews before getting a job offer. How can you make the interviews go more smoothly? What mistakes should you avoid making during a job interview?

A few years ago when I was job hunting, I had the nerve racking experience of going on countless job interviews before landing a job. The experience taught me a lot about the job interview process that hiring employers go through when looking for new employees. Here are five mistakes to avoid making during that all important job interview.

Job Interview Mistake #1: Arriving Late

Hiring employers are usually on a tight schedule. If you arrive late, you could throw off their interview schedule for the entire day. Showing up late gives the prospective employer the impression that you are not dependable. Avoid being late by allowing yourself extra time to reach your destination well ahead of schedule. Plan to arrive about 15 minutes before your job interview is scheduled to begin.

Job Interview Mistake #2: Dressing Inappropriately

First impressions are very important when you arrive for a job interview. The way you are dressed sets the tone from the moment you walk in the door. Proper dress for a job interview will vary depending on the company and the job position. Do your homework. Find out what the company's dress code is before your job interview and dress accordingly.

Job Interview Mistake #3: Chewing Gum

You may feel the need to freshen your breath by chewing gum on your way to a job interview. Be sure to get rid of the gum before you walk in the door. Chewing gum during a job interview is very unprofessional and makes you look tacky.

Job Interview Mistake #4: Talking Too Much

A little bit of small talk to break the ice at the beginning of a job interview is all right, but once the prospective employer starts asking the interview questions, avoid too much chit chat. Stick to answering the questions and don't give long winded, rambling answers. A friend of mine conducted many job interviews during his career and would end up rejecting the chattier people. His reasoning was that they might be too chatty on the job and would end up wasting a lot of valuable work time.

Job Interview Mistake #5: Letting Your Anxiety Show

It's natural to be nervous during a job interview, but don't let your anxiety show. Dry off those sweaty palms and take several deep breaths before you walk in the door. Don't let your eyes wander around the room when you are being asked questions. Pay attention, make eye contact, and think about what you are going to say before you answer. Don't ramble on nervously. Be polite and don't forget to smile. You want to appear calm under pressure.

Avoid these five job interview mistakes when you have an interview with a prospective employer. If you make a mistake, don't beat yourself up over it. Learn from your mistakes and you'll do better the next time. Above all, keep a positive attitude during your job search. Your attitude will shine through when you go for your next job interview.

Source: Personal Experience