7 Job Interview Landmines (That Don’t Involve Answers), and How to Avoid Them

The factors that contribute to a successful job interview are many. At, or near, the top of the list are your answers to the interviewer’s questions. Another words, what you say. As a job seeker you would be wise to practice your answers for likely interview questions. You want to sound prepared, confident, and come across as an effective communicator.

But a successful job interview isn’t only about what you say. It’s also about what you do – or don’t do. And sometimes what you do or don’t do can cancel out saying all the right things. Below are 7 common interview mistakes that job seekers make that don’t involve giving an answer – along with tips for how to avoid these interview landmines:

1.      Not arriving early

It’s simple. If you are not early, you're late. Arriving too close to when the interview is scheduled to start signals a lack of time management, which is a bad first impression to make.

Do this: Walk into the building approximately 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. This will give you the opportunity to use the restroom to freshen up (and practice your power poses), fill out an employment application, and take in your surroundings to help give you a sense of what the company culture is like. Being early will highlight your professionalism, time management skills, and mastery of logistics.

2.      Not taking notes

Candidates who neglect to take notes send a signal to the interviewer that nothing interesting or noteworthy was said. Nothing important was said that you want to follow up about either later in the interview, or afterwards. 

Do this: Bring a padfolio with a notepad and pen (and extra copies of your resume!) Write down any interesting or insightful information that you want to circle back to later, or that will be a factor in whether to accept a potential job offer. Taking notes will highlight your communication skills, information processing skills, and interest in what the employer is saying.

3.      Not knowing what’s coming

When you are surprised by the questions being asked, you send a signal that you didn’t prepare effectively. The employer may make the inference that if you are unprepared when you are trying to secure the job, you are likely to be unprepared while on the job.

Do this: While it may be impossible to know everything that will be asked of you, you can figure out many of the likely questions. A quick online search will return “top” and “most popular” general interview questions, as well as role specific questions. To go a step further, you could visit websites like Glassdoor.com to see if fellow job seekers posted interview questions they were asked by the company you are meeting with. Finally, review the job description as it will indicate what the company is looking for in ideal candidates – and what you should prepare for. Knowing what’s coming will highlight your preparation and research skills.

4.      Talking too much

This is one of – if not the – biggest landmines that trip up job seekers. When you talk too much, you lose the interviewer. You exhaust them. They check out. Little can save your candidacy after that. If you talk nonstop during the interview, the employer will assume you would do so at work if hired. And that doesn’t work for anyone. STOP TALKING SO MUCH AND FOR SO LONG!

Do this: During your interview preparation, practice keeping your answers brief, yet effective. Time yourself if necessary. During the actual interview, answer the question first and then provide relevant context, support, or explanation for your answer. But BE BRIEF! Pay attention to the interviewer – if their interest level starts to wane, wrap up your answer. If the interviewer wants to know more, they’ll ask. Being brief with your answers highlights your self-awareness and self-management skills.

5.      Inappropriate attire

While the “dress code” has become more casual over time, that’s not an excuse to dress inappropriately. Although what is appropriate is relative, the most common faux paus include dressing too casual and wearing clothes that reveal too much. You want the employer to be focused on your answers and behaviors, not your clothes, or lack thereof. 

Do this: Dress in a respectful, professional manner. If you aren’t sure that that means, research what the company or industry culture is like for clues. If that doesn’t work, ask whether your grandmother would approve of what you are thinking of wearing. If it’s a no, then don’t wear it. Dressing appropriately highlights your professionalism and awareness of company culture.

6.      Poor body language

We communicate not only verbally, but also with our body language, which includes eye contact, body movements and posture, gestures, and facial expressions, among other things. Poor body language can be distracting and make people uncomfortable, which will undermine what you have to say. The employer may question your social skills and your ability to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.

Do this: Record yourself on video participating in a mock interview. Pay attention to your body language to determine areas where you can be a better nonverbal communicator. In addition, since how we view ourselves and our performance is not always accurate, ask an objective person for feedback on your mock interview performance. Once you are aware of areas where you need to improve, you can take deliberate action to improve your body language and thus interview performance. Appropriate body language highlights your communication skills, social skills, and emotional intelligence skills.

7.      Not asking questions

Ok, so you asking questions is response to “Do you have any questions for us?” is you giving answer, but this one it too important to leave off the list. Asking zero questions at the end of an interview is another action (or lack thereof) that can doom your candidacy. Interviews are a two-way conversation. If you aren’t asking questions, you aren’t really participating fully in the conversation/interview. This signals a lack of curiosity about the company or position.

Do this: During your interview prep, write down at least 7 questions you want to ask the interviewer. You want a long list of questions because some will be answered during the interview, and you want at least a few to ask at the end. Asking questions highlights your preparation skills, as well as interest in, and curiosity about, the position and employer.

What you say is crucial to a successful job interview. But so too is how you give an answer and other nonverbal communication. Being aware of the job interview landmines listed above and then taking action to avoid them will not only improve your interview performance, but will also highlight many of the skills employers are looking for in candidates and employees.

[Originally published on LinkedIn on July 19, 2021: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/7-job-interview-landmines-dont-involve-answers-how-bill-leonard-mhrm/]