Common Job interview Mistakes

So who's perfect? We make mistakes and things go wrong when interviewing for a new job. The beauty of being a human being is that in order to grow we have to make mistakes. The best way to grow is by making mistakes.

When things go wrong during a job interview, Job Seekers often tend to beat themselves up about it. No one likes it when a job interview doesn't work out the way they wanted. Why not learn from other job seekers mistakes and avoid job interview blunders altogether.

Woe is the Job Seeker that ends up with all of the following interview problems happening to them.

Here are a few common job interview mistakes that Job Seekers make. Find simple ways to avoid things going wrong when looking for a new job. Simple 'Job Interview Damage Control' is all that is required to turn a bad job interview into a great one.

• You're running late for your job interview

It happens, more often than not. The traffic, the road works, the trucks and taxis, it's hard not to run late all of the time. Things happen (as printed on smiley faced T-shits from the sixties), this is one of the most common mistakes Job Seekers make. We all run late from time to time but what do you do when you're late for a job interview?

Contact your interviewer as soon as you even so much as think that you are running late. Apologise and advise them of your estimated time of arrival. To remedy this job interview problem, you can supply two options. If the Recruiter is available to do so and you are no longer than ten to twelve minutes behind schedule, ask them if they could kindly wait your arrival. If you are horribly late for your job interview, suggest re-scheduling the interview at the Recruiter's earliest convenience. Always offer the Recruiter a legitimate explanation and if you don't have one, make one up. Being late is inexcusable; time is money and tardiness is one of the worst job interview mistakes you can make. Efficient time management is a basic employment requirement. Always do your best to arrive five minutes ahead of the scheduled job interview time in order to make a professional impression.

• You've forgotten the Name of the Person you are Interviewing with

You have hit a blank; there is nothing but white space in your brain. You can't remember your interviewer's name. If you realise ahead of time, you may be able to find a staff directory on the company website. Alternatively call the receptionist and explain your predicament. Perhaps, with his/ her kind assistance they could check the hiring manager's diary or perhaps remind you of their name. If you strike a blank while shaking your interviewers hand introduce yourself and apologise for having being so excited to meet with them, that you had accidentally forgotten their name. Remember, we are all human beings, and we experience uniquely similar emotions. Be transparent and let your personality save your when you make this minor mistake.

• Stuck with an Unresponsive Interviewer

You've got your best smile on, you haven't messed up any answers but your interviewer hasn't moved a muscle. An unresponsive job interviewer can be pretty intimidating. The problem here is that you never know where you stand with them. A common mistake job seekers make is they panic. You need to stay calm and think as clearly as possible. Your sole task now, is to answer the questions that the job interviewer asks as articulately as possible. Regardless of the interviewer's response, answer the questions honestly and as best you can. An interview is not a test with right or wrong answers. An interview is where compatibility and relevancy is what is being measured. Stay confident, consistent and committed to your job interview success.

• You get tongue tied during a job interview.

This is something that happens to the best of us. A common mistake we make during job interviews is when we stumble over our words. Nothing sounds worse that a sentence filled with, um's, err's, and likes. Stress can all but eliminate our ability to communicate. The best way to avoid such job interview blunders is by preparing ahead of time. Familiarise yourself with common job interview questions. Prepare appropriate answers so that you aren't put on the spot. Don't make the mistake of letting tricky job interview questions get the better of you. There are ways and means to avoiding such mistakes.

Remember, the job interview is an opportunity for an employer or Recruiter to get to know the job applicant. Job Interviews reveal clues about the candidate that could not be documented in their CV. Reveal your personality to the recruiter. Be transparent and consistent in your conviction and your responses. Always remember to be you. This is just as much an opportunity for you to assess the company as they do you.