What to Do When You Make One of These 5 Common Interview Mistakes

What to Do When You Make One of These 5 Common Interview MistakesWhat to Do When You Make One of These 5 Common Interview Mistakes Its leid something we like to reflect on, but the truth is that theres plenty of things that can go wrong when you submit an application and start the bewerbungsbewerbungsinterview process for a new job. But even if the stakes are high, you cant let the fear of making a mistake hold you back theres a wonderful new job out there with your name on it, and the only way to get it is to take a risk, submit the application and do your best in the interview. Only what if you feel like you didnt do your best? Or what if you know for sure that you made a misstep? A Shout wipe will save you from a mistake at lunch, but if you think theres a chance you messed up during the interview process, you need to implement some damage control right away. Heres what Halai Shukran, Director of Talent Management at Viant, Inc. has to say about the five most c ommon interview mistakes she sees when working with prospective job candidates.A huge pain point for recruiters is putting all this work into finding a stellar candidate and scheduling a phone sichtung to feel them out for the role, only for the candidate to miss it, says Shukran. Missing the phone screen and not following up to reschedule shows a lack of professionalism, time management, and follow up, and these are key skills a recruiter looks for when assessing someone for any role.If youve already made this mistake, its not a complete loss follow up with your contact as quickly as possible, take full responsibility for the slip, and explain the mitigating circumstances. Anything less like dismissing it as no big deal or assuming theyll reschedule quickly wont win you any favors (or second chances).Shukran notes that another common interview mistake is sending a bland follow-up note or not following up at all. This causes you to miss out on an enormous opportunity to stand ou t among other prospective hires and more importantly to continue the conversation and build a relationship with your interviewer. If you made this common interview mistake and havent followed up to an interview yet, do so Just make sure its unique to the person with whom you interviewed and shows youre paying attention to the conversation Whenever possible, think back to something an interviewer said about the company and comment on it, or follow up for more information or to share an interesting article tied to the role. A follow-up that showcases whether or not youre a fit shows more interest post-interview than a generic one, remarks Shukran. I know of a candidate that was interviewing with a company, and while they were waiting in the wings to hear back from the recruiter, the company received some good reviews in the press, remarks Shukran. The next morning, the candidate reached out just to say congratulations on the big win. That thoughtful gesture showcased that persons passion for the company and helped that candidate stay top of mind.When a candidate follows up too frequently, I start to wonder about whats going on, says Shukran. Did they get turned down by another company, so theyre latching onto this job? Did they not hear when we said were going through first round of interviews and will get back to them next week? Either theyre not listening or theyre too aggressive, and either way thats a turnoff. Aside from chilling out and stepping back, you cant recover from too much follow up. Your best bet is to learn your lesson and apply a more moderate approach to following your next interview (or better yet, ask your interviewer what the follow-up schedule looks like and act accordingly). If you think thats harsh, consider this interviewers know that how you follow up to interview is how youll follow up with customers and co-workers on the job An aggressive level of follow up concerns me because its a preview of what that person will be like as part of a team, explains Shukran. Im thinking, If this person is working with another stakeholder on a project or deadline, they might not be cognizant or respectful of what the other persons time line is. If it seems like asking questions at the end of an interview is optional, Shukran wants to be clear that its not An interview is more of a conversation than anything else, she says. When youre really listening in an interview and having an insightful conversation, you have an opportunity to dig deeper. If youre not asking questions, it shows a lack of interest and passion.If you find yourself in the middle of an interview and you really cant think of any questions, its OK to ask to circle back with questions later. Not everyone can think on their feet, Shukran says. When youre still in the moment and you cant think of any questions, its OK to say, This is a lot of info to digest, Id like to think through the questions and follow up by email. That would show me a strong sense of self-awareness that you know youre not the person to think on your feet but you know what you need to do to get the job done.If you didnt ask questions in the interview, all is not lost. The next time youre in touch with your interviewer whether thats a scheduled follow-up call or a check-in a week or two after your interview ask if its possible to take them up on their offer to ask questions and include a few thoughtful ones in your email. The best way to impress a recruiter or hiring manager is to do your research in advance of the interview that means doing your due diligence and reading the companys website, performing a web search for articles mentioning the company or recent press releases, and reviewing all interview-related email correspondence.I work in ad tech, so whats always very impressive to me is when candidates come in from outside our industry with a strong understanding of the business , says Shukran. There may be gaps or mistakes in how theyre addressing wh at we do, but whether they have the details right or not, it shows me that they have a strong passion for the potential opportunity and a strategic, business-oriented way of thinking.This is yet another common interview mistake where the best approach is a preventative one. Research the company and the ort as thoroughly as possible in advance of your interview so youre prepared to have an intelligent discussion about the position and the role it plays in the companys big picture. If you made the mistake of taking the interview cold, make sure you show that youve done your research when you follow up. Mention a recent press release or acquisition, or ask a question that shows that youve put some thought into how the position will play into the companys long-term goals. As Shukran explains, When you can connect your day to day to the bigger picture on an ongoing basis, its much more valuable compared to someone who is focused on the tasks associated with the job. If you blew an int erview with one of these common interview mistakes, take heart. Youre not alone, and the mistake can likely be fixed. And if it cant, youve learned a valuable lesson that will serve you well for future interviews. Dont give up, and youre bound to find the job that fits your life .