The way you communicate in a job interview will make or break your chances of getting the job. It doesn’t matter if you’re the most qualified person on paper if you can’t speak confidently about your talents and accomplishments.
Here are five communication mistakes you need to avoid during a job interview:
Body language that signals you’re bored or stressed.
Nonverbal communication is just as powerful as the words you speak. You could give all the right answers in your interview but never make eye contact with the hiring manager, keep looking up at the clock, or have your arms crossed the entire time. Even with great answers, these nonverbal cues could cost you the job, because they make you seem disinterested or closed off.
Rambling.
When answering questions, keep your answers concise. The longer your answer, the less memorable it is. Short statements allow you to focus on sharing the most important information, which makes it easier for the hiring manager to remember key points.
Being too rehearsed.
You don’t want to come off as a robot in your interview, which can happen if you over-rehearse your answers. Being too rehearsed means your focus will be more on delivering the monologue you’ve practiced rather than being in the moment. You also run the risk of answering with less emotion and passion, which can make you seem disinterested.
Complaining.
Never complain about anything in an interview – not your previous boss, coworkers, company, or anything. Complaining makes you sound unprofessional.
Lying.
You don’t want to risk telling a lie in the first interview then saying something different in the next because you forgot what you said and lied about. The best way to ensure that you don’t make these mistakes is to go into the interview well prepared.
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