4 Common Interview Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
When aiming to land a new role, especially a dream position, being fully prepared for your interview is essential. At BJRC Recruiting, we’ve seen many talented professionals miss out on opportunities due to common interview mistakes—missteps that could have been easily avoided with the proper preparation. Whether you’re an entry-level professional or a senior executive, understanding these pitfalls is crucial to ensuring you make the best impression possible.
In this blog, we’ll explore four common interview mistakes we’ve observed from candidates or heard about from our clients. More importantly, we’ll offer tips on how to avoid these mistakes so you can confidently walk into your next interview and present your best self.
1. Failing to Research the Company
One of the most frequent mistakes we see, even among experienced professionals, is inadequate research on the company they’re interviewing with. While you’re not expected to have a deep understanding of the company’s mission and values, you should be familiar enough with the organization to speak to key points during your meeting. Yet, some candidates walk into an interview without any knowledge, which can come across as unprepared or disinterested.
How to Avoid It: Before your interview, research the company. Visit their website, read their latest press releases, and review any recent news coverage. Understand their industry position, and if you want to take it a step further, review any challenges they might be facing.
This knowledge will help you answer questions more effectively and allow you to ask insightful questions that demonstrate your interest and strategic thinking. Remember, during your interview, it’s not just about showing up—it’s about being informed and ready to engage.
2. Overemphasizing Personal Achievements
It’s natural to want to highlight your successes, but focusing too much on personal achievements without linking them to the team or organizational success can be a red flag, especially for leadership roles. Hiring managers and interviewers are looking for team players who can contribute to the company’s overall goals, not just individuals focused solely on their own accolades.
How to Avoid It: When discussing your achievements, always frame them in the context of how they benefited the team or organization. For example, instead of saying, “I led a project that increased sales by 20%,” you could say, “By leading a cross-functional team on a new initiative, we were able to increase sales by 20%, which contributed significantly to our annual revenue goals.” This approach shows that you understand the importance of collaboration and are focused on the entire organization’s success, not just your own career.
3. Neglecting to Prepare for Behavioral Questions
Behavioural interview questions are designed to assess how you’ve handled situations in the past, which can be a strong indicator of how you’ll perform in the future. Despite their importance, many candidates don’t adequately prepare for these questions. They may struggle to recall specific examples or provide vague, unfocused answers that don’t effectively showcase their skills and experience.
How to Avoid It: To prepare for behavioural questions, think of specific examples from your past roles that highlight key competencies such as leadership, problem-solving, and adaptability. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses. This technique helps you provide clear, concise, and relevant answers that demonstrate your qualifications and how you’ve successfully navigated challenges in the past. Preparing several STAR stories ahead of time can give you the confidence to tackle any behavioural question that comes your way.
4. Failing to Ask Thoughtful Questions
At the end of most interviews, you’ll be given the opportunity to ask questions. This is not just a formality—it’s a critical part of the interview process. Unfortunately, some candidates either fail to ask questions or ask questions that lack depth, which can signal a lack of interest or preparation. This is a missed opportunity to demonstrate your strategic thinking and learn more about the role and the company, helping you decide to accept the role should you be offered it down the line.
How to Avoid It: Prepare a list of thoughtful questions ahead of time that demonstrate your interest in the company’s future and your potential role in it. For example, you might ask, “How do you see the company evolving over the next five years, and how would this role contribute to that vision?” or “What are the biggest challenges currently facing the team, and how can my experience help address those challenges?” These types of questions show that you’re thinking beyond the immediate responsibilities of the role and are already considering how you can make a meaningful impact on the organization.
Avoiding these common interview mistakes can significantly affect how you’re perceived during the interview process. By being well-prepared, focusing on team achievements, crafting strong responses to behavioural questions, and asking insightful questions, you’ll position yourself as a thoughtful, engaged, and strategic candidate—exactly what employers are looking for today.
Ready to ace your next interview? Download BJRC Recruiting’s 2024 Interview Guide for more tips and strategies to help you prepare. With the right approach, you can confidently step into any interview and move one step closer to landing your dream role.