While you should do your utmost to ensure job interview mistakes are avoided when interviewing for a job there are times whether through a lack of concentration, or just through plain old human error, mistakes can occur and the way in which you recover from those mistakes will play a key role in whether you are to be a successful applicant or not. Today I have focused on some common interview mistakes and provided methods of recovery to each error.

                                                                                                                                                      1)  Arriving late for an interview.

If you arrive late you should apologize sincerely and say something like “I’m really sorry, when I drove here yesterday as practice run, it took me half the time but a bad accident held the traffic up today”, that way you are letting the interviewer know that you took the time to take a practice run which he/she will appreciate, and that the delay was unavoidable.

2)  Forgetting to turn off your cell-phone and you get a call during the interview.

Do not be tempted to look at the phone to see who is calling and in no circumstances answer the phone, instead turn the phone off and apologize to the interviewer saying something along the lines of, “I’m really sorry I was sure I switched it off, sincere apologies.”

3)  Arriving at the interview to see other candidates in suits while you are dressed casually.

This can cause embarrassment unless you know what to say to offset the issue. One way to overcome the error is to say “I am sorry for my casual appearance but had I worn a suit it may have caused suspicion in my current job as casual dress is the norm there, had I not been coming from work I would of course come dressed in more professional attire.” The interviewer will appreciate your honesty and, in most circumstances, be willing to overlook your mistake.

4)  Realizing you made a mistake in answering a question.

If you provide an answer then suddenly realize that you have given the wrong answer, rather than saying nothing, you will be better served by admitting that you had made a mistake by saying something along the lines “actually on reflection I gave an incorrect answer to the previous question, the correct answer should have been…”, the interviewer will admire your honesty and also the way in which you didn’t let the fact that you gave an incorrect answer to harm your composure.

                                                                                                                                                      If you make a mistake in a job interview the most important thing is not to let it overwhelm you to the point that it becomes a fatal blow to your employment ambitions. Interviewers are human and understand that mistakes can be made so don’t let an error on your behalf  knock your confidence, remain focused and continue your interview as normal.

Interview mistakes have been highlighted in a previous post The Top 5 Interview Mistakes And How To Avoid Them, continuing on that theme today we investigate further into interview mistakes to see what you need to be mindful of when attending job interviews.

• Watching the clock.
  Most interviewers are appreciative of anyone who takes time from their working day to attend interviews. If you are constantly checking your watch during the interview, this might hint to the interviewer that you would rather be elsewhere, so rather than showing the interviewer that you have an interest in the job you are in fact doing quite the opposite.

• Using crude language.
  Using bad language /swear words in a job interview will severely damage any chance you have of getting the job so keep your language professional and controlled throughout the interview process.

• Trying to speak over the interviewer.
  Make sure you allow the interviewer time to complete each question that he/she is asking, don’t guess the question and start speaking whilst the interviewer is speaking as you may be answering the wrong question altogether, not too mention that it shows a lack of courtesy towards the interviewer.

• Asking inappropriate questions during the interview.
  Intelligent questions related to the job or company is what is expected of you, if you ask questions that blatantly display that you have failed to do research on the company will alienate you from the interviewer and harm your chances of getting the job.

• Being critical of past employers.
  In the interview you should focus on communicating how you can add value to the business not criticizing past employers, as this may lead the interviewer to believe you have a poor attitude thus ending your chance of getting hired.

If you make a simple mistake during an interview such as get dates wrong or be unable to give a satisfactory answer (in your mind) to the question asked try not to get too flustered, instead continue on with your interview in a composed manner, and be sure to send a follow-up thank you letter after the interview.

Getting selected for a job interview is an achievement in itself given how competitive the marketplace is with so many job applicants applying for jobs, so being at your best is vital when it comes to interview stage. Unfortunately there have been many instances where job seekers fail to make a positive impact at their job interview through poor interviewing skills, lack of research and other similar errors, today we look at 5 of the most common interview mistakes along with ways to remedy them.

1. Arriving late.

Arriving late for an interview leaves a very poor first impression which will have you fighting an uphill struggle to overcome the damage caused by your tardiness. The best way to ensure you arrive on time is to do a test-run to your interview location the day before your interview at the same time of the day in order to gauge how much time you will need to allow to get there on time the following day. For example if your interview is an hour away and is taking place at 2PM on Thursday, take a trip there at 1230PM on Wednesday to get a feel for how long the journey will take.

2. Incorrect attire.

Arriving to a job interview wearing inappropriate clothing portrays a lack of professionalism and will not be looked upon favorably by the interviewer. If you are unsure of the company dress-code simply ask the person who contacts you about the interview. If wearing a uniform or similar then call the company in advance to say wearing anything else is unavoidable and apologize, most companies will be understandable in this regard.

3. Criticizing former employers

Never criticize an ex-employer during a job interview, you may come across as a troublemaker and your chances of getting the job will diminish. The best way to avoid this is by simply not including any derogatory remarks about your former employers at any stage in your meeting. The best way to overcome this is by stating you had been in Sample Company for 5 years for example and you wanted a fresh challenge. Keeping the interviewer focused on you is far more advantageous than coming across as a bitter ex-employee

4. Not asking questions.

Appearing disinterested in a job interview will seriously damage any chances you had of getting a job, not asking questions is one such way of appearing disinterested.  Overcome this by doing some research on the company and have some questions of your own to ask.

5. Discussing salary too early.

Of course salary information is extremely important in a job interview but by bringing it up before the interviewer asks you questions about it you may come across as being cocky or over-confident. You are better served by following the interviewers lead in this matter. On the other hand if you have a job interview arranged by a recruiter get him/her to find out the salary information for you instead.

Each of the interview mistakes outlined above are avoidable so to give yourself the best possible chance at your next job interview avoid these mistakes at all costs. Arrive on time, dress appropriately, express interest, and focus on your experience and achievements when answering interview questions.