5 Ways You Will Fail an Interview Before it Begins
When meeting employers, it always comes down to the first impression. If you are offered an interview face-to-face, chances are your first impression was a good one. However, sometimes interviews are offered over the phone or through some sort of media where your potential boss has (most likely) stalked you on social media, however has never met you in person. When you arrive for your interview, there are a lot of things that should be taken into consideration. Here are 5 ways that you will fail the interview before you have even introduced yourself.
#1. Punctuality. Employers are all about punctuality. Always aim to arrive early. If you arrive to your interview as much as five minutes late, it shows that you are not a punctual person. While there are many cases where people run into issues and are forced to come into work late, showing up for your interview late looks completely irresponsible. Chances are after you are late, you will not even be considered.
#2. Body Language. Once you arrive to your interview, it is important to present yourself in your best light. This means you should come across as warm, friendly and a genuinely nice person that will add life to the office. If you are slouching in the chair, folding your arms or leaning back, you will not look committed or excited to be there, which will automatically fail you in an interview.
#3. Phone Etiquette. So, you’re in the middle of your interview and you can feel your phone vibrating in your pocket, or even worse, ringing out loud. It is important to completely ignore these text messages, phone calls or notifications- they can wait! Answering your phone during an interview shows that you are not fully present, which employers do not want.
#4. Eye Contact. If a potential boss is interviewing you, make sure to maintain a good eye contact! This does not mean beginning a staring contest, or creepily staring at the person so they feel uncomfortable. Eye contact that is not overdone shows that you are engaged in the conversation and understand what they are saying. Eye contact also shows extreme confidence, which many employers look for in a candidate.
#5. Your Overall Look. It is common knowledge that the way you dress in a workplace, chances are, is not the same you would dress if you were heading to a bar on a Saturday night. What you are wearing when you enter the work place is part of what makes up the first impression that your potential boss will have on you. If you must ask the question, “Is this appropriate?” the answer is no! Make sure that your clothing is not revealing in any way, shape or form. Always be dressed appropriately for whatever the job is that you are interviewing for. In addition to clothing, make sure that your hygiene is kept up, as well. Make sure your teeth are brushed and your breath is fresh (bad breath is an immediate turn off). In addition, make sure that your hair is nicely kept. Your overall look is what immediately reflects you as a person, so make it a good one!
If you have an upcoming interview, be sure to look over these 5 ways that may ruin your chances. A potential employer will never get to see how great and talented you truly are if you are not punctual, have poor body language, are not engaged and do not look like you could even “play the part” within their office. Keep these ideas in mind before heading into your next big interview.
