Taking a test, public speaking, going on a blind date, sometimes an interview can feel like all of the most anxiety producing moments in life rolled up into one.
But impressing the hiring manager and hopefully landing your dream job can be a little less stressful if you know to avoid some of these biggest interview mistakes.
“So, tell me a little bit about yourself.” is probably the most common interview question opener.
It’s also a really hard question to answer.
So here is what you shouldn’t do.
Ramble, tell your life story, talk about yourself in generic terms, or just rehash your resume.
Here is what you should do
Tell a story about why you are looking to make a move and why this opportunity is exciting for you.
And make sure that your story has a clear beginning, middle and end.
If you are really well-prepared for your interview, you might focus so much on what you are going to say that you forget about how you are going to say it.
A recent study of hiring managers found that failure to make eye contact was one of the biggest problems that candidates had.
Are there unconscious movements that send the wrong message?
Fidgeting, bad posture and having a weak handshake.
Make sure your messages aren’t getting lost, try doing practice when you interview with a friend and get some body language feedback.
