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Top Interview Mistakes to Avoid (and What to Do Instead)    

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Landing a job interview is a huge accomplishment, and you deserve to feel proud and excited about this opportunity. It’s your moment to shine and show potential employers who you are and what you bring to the table. But with the high stakes of an interview, it’s natural to feel a little pressure. Unfortunately, that pressure can sometimes lead to mistakes during the interview that may or may not reduce your chances of getting the job.

The good news? With awareness and preparation, you can avoid these pitfalls and bring your best self to the interview. Here’s a breakdown of some common interview mistakes and how you can set yourself up for success.

Mistake #1: Being Unprepared

Walking into an interview without sufficient preparation is one of the most significant missteps you can make. Employers can tell when candidates haven’t done their homework, and it can come across as lack of interest, effort, or motivation.

What to Do Instead:

  • Research the company thoroughly before the interview. Understand its mission, values, and recent developments. Recruiters often ask, “What do you know about us?” Be ready to answer with specifics.
  • Review the job description closely and prepare examples from your past experience that align with the key responsibilities and qualifications.
  • Practice common interview questions so you feel more comfortable when they’re asked.

Mistake #2: Talking Negatively About Past Employers

Even if you had a tough experience at a previous job, it’s crucial to avoid venting about past employers. Employers know there are two sides to every story, and speaking negatively about another company can make you seem difficult to work with or unprofessional.

What to Do Instead:

  • Focus on what you learned from challenging experiences, rather than who was at fault. For example, instead of saying, “My old boss was impossible to deal with,” say, “I learned how to approach communication with different work styles.”
  • Stay positive and professional. Frame your past experiences as growth opportunities.

This shift in perspective allows employers to see you as adaptable and solutions-oriented.

Mistake #3: Overlooking Body Language

While your words matter, your non-verbal communication can send unintended signals. Slouching, lack of eye contact, or fidgeting can undermine your message.

What to Do Instead:

  • Practice good posture and maintain eye contact. Sit up straight and look attentive but relaxed. (Practice in front of a mirror. Seriously, it helps.)
  • Smile and use open hand gestures to convey friendliness and confidence.
  • Practice mock interviews with a friend or coach to get comfortable with positive body language.

Even small changes in your demeanor can make a huge impact on how employers perceive you.

Mistake #4: Failing to Ask Questions

When an interviewer asks, “Do you have any questions for us?” saying “No” can signal a lack of enthusiasm or curiosity about the role. This is a missed opportunity to stand out.

What to Do Instead:

  • Always prepare 2-3 thoughtful questions about the company or role. For example, ask about team culture, expectations for the first few months, or how success is measured in the position.
  • Avoid questions about salary or benefits during the initial interview. Focus instead on demonstrating interest in the job itself.

By asking insightful questions, you show that you’re genuinely invested in the opportunity.

Mistake #5: Rambling or Going Off-Topic

It’s easy to fall into the trap of over-explaining or wandering off-topic, especially when you’re nervous. Unfortunately, this can dilute your key messages.

What to Do Instead:

  • Use the PAR method to structure your answers (Problem, Action, Result) when discussing your experiences. This keeps your responses clear, concise, and relevant.
  • Practice answering questions with a time limit in mind to avoid over-explaining.

Sticking to the point helps you communicate more effectively and keeps the interviewer engaged.

Mistake #6: Undervaluing Yourself

Finally, don’t sell yourself short. Downplaying your accomplishments or failing to highlight why you’re a great fit for the role can make it harder for employers to recognize your potential.

What to Do Instead:

  • Highlight your strengths with confidence. Focus on how your skills and experience align with what the role requires.
  • Use specific examples and measurable achievements to showcase your value.

Remember, the interview is your chance to advocate for yourself. Believe in your abilities and share them proudly.

Mistakes Happen. Learn and Move Forward.

Even with careful preparation, interviews can feel unpredictable. If you made a misstep, don’t assume it ruined your chances. Employers understand that candidates are human and don’t expect perfection. Instead of dwelling on what went wrong, ask yourself, “What can I learn from this?” Use that insight to improve for future interviews.

Forgive yourself, be kind to yourself, and remember that progress is more important than perfection.

If you’d like help mastering your interview skills or tackling any part of the job search process, I’m here to support you. Schedule a free consultation with me today, and together, we’ll build the confidence and tools you need to achieve your career goals.

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7 Essential Questions to Ask During a Job Interview

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If you’re like most job seekers, when you’re invited to an interview for a job, you’re likely focused on what questions the employer is likely to ask you, and how you will answer them. But have you considered that the interview is also a time for you to ask questions?

Job interviews are not a one-way street. Yes, the employer wants to know if you’re a good fit for the company, but you’re also there to find out if the job is a good fit for you. The job interview offers you a golden opportunity to learn more about the company, the team, and the role at hand. So when you’re inevitably asked, “Do you have any questions for us?”, seize the moment. Here are seven critical questions that can help you make a lasting impression while gathering important information.

1. What does a typical day look like in this role?

Landing the job is not the end-all, be-all, here. Once you’ve landed the position, you need to know something about what your day-to-day life will look like in that job. Asking this question shows your interviewer that you’re serious about understanding what will be expected of you. It also gives you a chance to peek into your potential future, understand your daily tasks, and determine if this is the kind of work you see yourself doing.

2. How would you describe the company culture here?

Workplace culture can greatly influence your job satisfaction and career growth. By asking this question, you can get an idea of the work environment, team dynamics, and the company’s values. The interviewer will invariably tell you positive things about the company culture, but you can learn a lot by listening to how they answer the question. Do they stumble over their words? Do they avoid eye contact? Or do they answer confidently and enthusiastically? How does the answer make you feel? This can help you decide if this is an environment where you will thrive and feel comfortable.

3. What opportunities for professional development does the company offer?

Your interest in professional growth shows ambition and a vision for your future. This question helps you understand what kind of learning opportunities the company provides, whether it’s further training, conferences, or opportunities for promotion. Plus, it sends a message that you’re viewing this job as a long-term investment, not just a stepping stone.

4. Can you tell me about the team I’ll be working with?

The people you work with can significantly impact your job satisfaction. This question not only shows that you’re a team player and are keen on forging strong professional relationships, but it also gives you a sense of the team dynamics. The response can help you gauge if these are people you can learn from, grow with, and look forward to working with.

5. What are the biggest challenges facing the company/department right now?

This question shows that you’re not just interested in the good, but also ready to tackle the bad and the ugly. It demonstrates your problem-solving mindset and readiness to contribute positively to the company. Plus, it gives you a realistic view of the current challenges you might face in your role and how you might be helpful in providing solutions.

6. How do you measure success in this position?

Understanding how performance is measured can help you hit the ground running from day one. This question shows your dedication to doing well and your focus on meeting and exceeding expectations. It also helps you understand what specific achievements or milestones the company values.

7. What are the next steps in the interview process?

Ending the interview with this question shows that you’re eager to progress in the selection process. It sets clear expectations for follow-up and demonstrates your serious interest in the role.

Remember, an interview is not just about answering questions—it’s about asking the right ones too. By posing these questions, you encourage your potential employer to share valuable insights about the company culture, job role, and growth opportunities. You’ll also present yourself as a professional, someone who has confidence in your abilities and has a desire to make a positive difference in the company.

Of course, there’s a lot more to do to prepare for a job interview (not the least of which is landing the interview!), so if you’re looking for some guidance in finding the right job openings for you, I’m here to help. Simply schedule a complimentary initial consultation for yourself on my calendar here.

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Ace That Job Interview: Proven Confidence-Building Tips

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Let’s be real for a moment: job interviews can be daunting. When having that conversation with a prospective employer, you’re there to make a great first impression, to show them why you’re absolutely the right person for the job. You’re expected to exude a high level of confidence when, in fact, you may feel anything BUT confident. This can be even more of an issue the longer you’ve been looking for work, especially if you have had a few rejections.

But don’t fret! There are some practical, tangible steps you can take to reclaim your self-confidence before heading into the interview. Let’s explore a few effective and actionable confidence-building strategies that can help you ace your next job interview.

Remind Yourself of Your Qualities and Qualifications

Let’s start by pointing out the obvious: you got the job interview. That means an employer saw your resume and liked what they saw–to the point that they reached out to you. This in itself is an achievement, and it means they’ve already recognized your talents. The next step (i.e., the interview) isn’t to decide whether you’re qualified, but if you’re the right fit for the team. In other words, you’ve already proven your value before the interview starts. Reminding yourself of this one fact, and the qualities you have that led to this moment, can itself help increase your confidence.

Visualize Success

Positive visualization is a powerful tool used by many successful individuals, from athletes to CEOs. Start by picturing yourself confidently walking into the interview room, shaking hands with the interviewer, and answering questions with ease and assurance. Imagine leaving the interview room knowing you’ve given your best. If your interview is scheduled on Zoom, visualize exuding confidence, smiling, adopting open postures, etc. This mental rehearsal can significantly boost your confidence.

Review Your Achievements

Often, the root of low self-confidence is forgetting our past successes. Before your interview, create a list of your achievements. This could include projects you’ve completed, challenges you’ve overcome, or skills you’ve mastered. Reviewing this list will remind you of your capabilities and accomplishments, helping to bolster your self-confidence.

Adopt a Power Pose

Body language speaks volumes about your confidence level. Research led by social psychologist Amy Cuddy has shown that adopting a “power pose” can increase feelings of confidence. (If you’ve never seen her TED Talk on the subject, it’s worth a watch.) Her ideas have sparked debate over the years as to whether power poses actually work–but recent research on the subject has recently validated this concept. So if you’re struggling with confidence, try this: stand tall with your hands on your hips, or sit with your legs and arms spread out in a relaxed manner, for two minutes before your interview. These poses can “trick” your brain into feeling more confident and powerful–and before you know it, you will be.

Practice Out Loud

Practice makes perfect, or at least, much better. Take a look at the job description and turn the job duties lists into questions an interviewer might ask. Then rehearse your responses to those questions out loud to make you feel more prepared and confident. Consider practicing in front of a mirror or recording yourself to get comfortable with your responses, expressions and body language. Pay particular attention to your facial expressions, especially if you’re prepping for a Zoom interview. (Pro tip: When doing Zoom interviews, also remember to look into the camera, not at your screen. This presents the image of making eye contact with the interviewer.)

Dress for Success

What you wear can significantly impact how you feel. Whether you’re interviewing in person or by Zoom, dressing professionally can boost your confidence and help you make a positive first impression. Choose an outfit that makes you feel comfortable, professional, and confident.

Confidence isn’t something you’re born with – it’s something you build. Developing confidence takes time and practice, but these actionable tips can help you feel more self-assured in your next job interview. Remember, every interview is a learning experience. So, even if you don’t get the job, consider it a step forward in your journey towards career success. Oh, and one more tip for gaining more confidence: work with a career coach. Few things can help you feel more confident in your job search than knowing you’re not alone in the process. I’ll work with you on multiple levels to help you find the opportunities, identify your strengths, and convey those strengths both on your resume and your interviews, so you can land the job you want. To schedule a free initial consultation, access my calendar here.

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Five Ways to Maximize Your Chances of Interview Success

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So you’ve applied for a slew of jobs, sent out a bunch of resumes, and now a prospective employer has called you for an interview. You may feel a mix of emotions ranging from excitement to panic, all in the same moment. An interview is a perfect opportunity for you and the employer to assess if you are right for each other. On the other hand, there’s a lot riding on those few minutes you spend with the interviewer. The more prepared you are going into the interview, the better your chances of success. Here are five tips to help you nail it.

1. Research the Company and Position

The first thing you need to do is effectively become an expert on the company you’re applying to. Learn about the industry, company history, organizational culture and interview process they use with prospective employees. Read through their website thoroughly and find out all you can about the day-to-day workings of the company. This will give you a sense of what is expected of you, what the company looks for in its employees, and how the interview is likely to be structured.

Next, find out who your potential interviewer is and research them, too, so when you meet them, you’ll know something about their background and expertise. You should also keep an eye on their social media profiles so that you’re aware of any news they happen to post. The more informed you are about the company, position, and interviewer, the more confidently you can approach the interview itself.

2. Prepare Answers to Common Interview Questions

If you’ve done job interviews recently, you probably already know some of the most common questions you could be asked. For example:

“What are your greatest strengths?”

“What is your greatest weakness?”

“What is your ideal work environment?”

“What accomplishments are you most proud of?”

“Tell us about a time when you set a goal and reached it.”

Take some time to think out some clear, detailed answers to these and other common questions. For the best impact, think about the company itself, as well as the position you’re applying for, and align your answers with that company and position. For example, if you’re asked, “How would you respond to this-and-such situation?”, assume they’re talking about their own company and answer the question in that context. When answering questions, provide examples about how your work experience aligns with the company’s needs.

Practice answering these questions in the mirror or with a friend/coach until they come out naturally and don’t sound rehearsed. You should also be prepared for interviewer follow-ups such as “How do you handle frustration?” or “Tell me about a time when you went above and beyond for an employer.” The more prepared you are with thoughtful answers, the better chance you’ll have of showing how well you would fit into the company culture. (Click here for a list of some common interview questions.)

3. Be Respectful of Their Time

Given the current job market, chances are you aren’t the only one interviewing for this position–and even if the employer intends to wait until everyone has an interview before hiring someone, they’re still making up their minds as they go. Timeliness is part of your all-important first impression. If you’re having an in-person interview, be on time (meaning at least 10 minutes early). If you’re interviewing remotely by Zoom or Skype, be ready to go at the scheduled interview time. Doing so shows respect for the interviewer’s time and demonstrates self-discipline and thoroughness–all of which are highly desirable qualities in an employee.

4. Frame Yourself as an Asset

Do you know why I had you do all that research on the company in the first tip above? So you could identify the company’s needs, learn about the position they’re filling, and position yourself as the perfect fit for that position based on your prior experience. (That’s also why I said to align your answers to interview questions around the company and the position.) Be modest, but confident. Your skills and expertise are what this company needs, so every time you have the opportunity to speak, try to speak specifically to the company’s needs and how you can help. By doing this, you’re making the conversation about them, not about you or your need for a job. The more they can visualize you in that position, the more likely they are to make an offer. So make sure they see you that way.

5. Prepare Five Points

One last “secret weapon” I like to recommend to my clients when prepping for an interview: identify five points you want to make—points that demonstrate why you are an ideal candidate for the job you’re seeking. Keep these points in mind as you go through the interview and look for opportunities to say them. If the interview questions don’t give you an opportunity, then save them for the end when you’ll get the inevitable question, “Is there anything else you’d like to add?” Sharing these five points ensures that you don’t leave anything unsaid that you feel you “should have said,” and you can walk out of the interview confident that you gave your best effort.

If you want more one-on-one help prepping for that next job, I’m here as always. Shoot me an email at terrylynn@giraffesconsulting.com and let’s set you up with a free 30-minute consultation.

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Tips for Nailing Remote Job Interviews

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In the weeks since the pandemic caused us all to shelter-in-place, I think we’ve all learned a LOT about how much technology can help us stay connected. The ability to tele-work has helped many companies stay in business, and even job interviews are now being conducted via video platforms like Zoom and Skype. If you happen to land a remote job interview, it can be intimidating at first, especially If you don’t have a lot of experience with videoconferencing. Plus, a video interview can feel quite different than an in-person interview, and there a few additional factors to think about.

Never fear—that’s why we’re here. If a potential employer asks you to interview online, here are some steps you need to ahead of time to make sure you put your best foot forward.

Install the Video App Beforehand

The employer will typically let you know which video platform they want to use for your interview. For our purposes, we’ll say it’s either Zoom or Skype since these are the most common, but there are others, as well. Whichever app they suggest, make sure you have it installed on your computer and test it out before the day of your interview. Zoom and Skype are both free to install, and you’ll need to set up a free account if you don’t have one yet. With Zoom, the employer will usually send a link via email that opens the app and logs you into the chat room automatically—but you’ll avoid potential disaster by making sure the app works before you click the link at interview time.

Create the Right Setting

When you go into an in-person interview, the setting is predetermined for you (i.e., the employer’s office or a conference room). With video conferencing—and this is important—you set your own backdrop. You don’t just need to think about what to wear (more on that in a minute)—you need to think about where you’ll sit, what is behind you and how you’ll look on camera. These factors will now all contribute to first impressions—not just how you dress!

Pick a place in your home or apartment that is pleasant and well-lit, with a backdrop that is relatively neutral and uncluttered. Be careful sitting next to open windows as the sunlight may cast an unintended shadow across your face—and if the window is behind you, you’ll be silhouetted. Position lighting so your gorgeous smile is easy to see!

Remove Visual and Audible Distractions

When setting your backdrop, you don’t necessarily have to have a plain, white wall—bookshelves and decorations are fine—just make sure there isn’t excessive clutter or gadgets in view that might draw the interviewer’s eyes away from you. Another factor that can be distracting is sound. When it’s interview time, make sure the room is quiet, free from the noise from kids, roommates, etc. Also, if you’re in a small room with bare walls, your voice might sound like you’re in a tunnel, and that can be distracting. At the very least, hang some blankets around the room (not in the camera view) to dampen the sound of your voice.

Prepare for the Interview Itself

Once you have set the stage, so to speak, your next task is to treat the interview almost exactly as if you were doing it in person. Prepare the same as you would for any other interview—research the company, anticipate what questions you might be asked, rehearse your answers, make a list of questions you’d like to ask—all the normal prep work you’d do otherwise. Your goal here is basically to make the same type of impression on the employer as if you were in the room with the interviewer. The more you prepare in this way, the closer you’ll be to that goal, even when interviewing remotely.

Do a Test Run (or Two)

The next way to prepare, especially if this is your first video interview, is to do a trial run. Ask a friend (or coach) to join you on Zoom or Skype to do a practice run-through of the interview. Start by opening the app and hopping on the call to make sure your audio and video work properly. (Too many video interviews have been bungled simply because the applicant didn’t bother to check the technology!)

Once you’re on the call, before you start the role-playing Q&A, take a good look at yourself and your backdrop to make sure you’re well-lit and there are no unwanted distractions behind you. During the Q&A, watch yourself on screen. Try to relax and act as normally as possible, as if the computer in front of you is the other person in the room. During the Q&A, record the session if possible so you can listen back for any unwanted echoes in the room, and also to check your responses. Avoid the temptation to get intimidated or self-conscious. If you see something that annoys you about how you look/act, you’ll typically make the adjustment naturally. (That’s the great thing about watching ourselves onscreen—it shows us things we don’t know are happening in the moment and gives us a chance to fix them.)

Dress for Success

And finally…dress for the interview exactly as you would if you were going into the office. There’s a running joke about dressing only from the waist up for remote interviews—don’t do it. First, you’ll have a lot more self-confidence if you dress the part; and second, if you have to get up for any reason, the illusion will be shattered.

If you need help with your job search or prepping for remote interviews, I’m here to assist—and as I mentioned before, if you became unemployed due to the pandemic, you may be eligible for free coaching from me. Just shoot me an email at terrylynn@giraffesconsulting.com and tell me your story, and I’ll get back to you to set up a free consultation.