9 mistakes and blunders to avoid in your next job interview

Interviewing for a job can feel overwhelming. As you consider how to answer the questions you face, you might feel unsure or lack confidence, causing you to make mistakes or trip over your words. These things happen, but with some preparation and helpful tips, you can avoid making errors when you meet with an interviewer. This guide breaks down nine mistakes and blunders to avoid in your next job interview.

Dressing unprofessionally

No matter what job you're interviewing for, it's best to dress professionally. Opt for a suit or a skirt or dress pants with a button-down blouse or shirt to look put-together. If you're not sure how to dress, you can ask the hiring manager or recruiter about the office dress code and use the answer to guide your choice of outfit. It's always better to overdress than wear apparel to an interview that makes you look sloppy or unprofessional.

Arriving late or too early

Timing your arrival to your interview time slot can demonstrate your ability to manage your time properly and your commitment to the role. On the other hand, arriving late shows an interviewer that you don't care about the job enough to prioritize the interview. Arriving too early can also cause issues for the people involved in the interview process, as they may have other tasks they need to complete before conducting your interview.

Not telling the truth

It's often tempting to embellish aspects of your professional history, but lying on your resume almost certainly will come back to bite you during the interview process. When an interviewer asks about your skills or previous roles, you'll have to continue to lie, and they may disqualify you if they learn that you weren't being totally honest. Instead of embellishing anything about your history, take the time to write accurate and engaging bullet points about your qualifications.

Talking negatively about previous roles

If you're interviewing for a new role, there may be something in your current role that you want to get away from. However, you should always use discretion and professionalism when talking about past jobs. Speaking too negatively about roles, even those that weren't great experiences, can make it look like you're a difficult co-worker or subordinate. Remain positive by talking about what experiences helped you to learn and become a better candidate for the job you're interviewing for now.

"By asking thoughtful questions, you can demonstrate your interest in being hired."

Trying to be a comedian

Your friends may appreciate your puns, wit, and thinly veiled sarcasm, but trying to be too funny during a job interview might not come across as professional. Leave the stand-up for your social media posts and stick to honest, straightforward answers when interviewing for a position.

Using negative body language

According to a survey, nearly half of employers know whether a candidate is a good fit for a position within the first five minutes of the meeting. Your body language plays a major role in whether an interviewer wants to continue with the interview and consider hiring you. Upon arrival, make eye contact with everyone involved in the interview and smile naturally when communicating. Some of the actions that look negative to an interviewer include:

Crossing your arms
Failing to make eye contact
Fidgeting in your seat
Playing with your hair
Touching your face
Using too many hand gestures
Fidgeting with something on the table or in your hand

Not asking any questions

An interviewer will typically ask if you have questions at least once during or at the end of the interview. If you don't have any questions to ask, the interviewer may think that you're not interested in learning more about the position. Take some time before your interview to consider what questions you might have about the job and its duties, the company, or even the benefits that might be available to you. By asking thoughtful questions, you can demonstrate your interest in being hired.

Eating during the interview

Eating during an interview is unprofessional and makes it difficult for people to ask you questions. If you're hungry, grab a snack to eat before you walk into the building for your interview. The interviewer may offer you a drink, which you can sip between questions if your mouth feels dry.

Looking at your phone

Getting distracted during an interview can break your train of thought and make you look unprofessional to the person asking the questions. To avoid personal distractions, keep your phone in your briefcase or bag. If you get email alerts or other notifications about potential jobs, you don't want these to distract you during your interview. Put your phone on its “do not disturb” setting during the interview so it doesn't ring or buzz.

Taking steps to avoid these common mistakes and blunders can boost your chances of scoring a second-round interview or getting the job. Don't forget to upload a resume, bring a copy to the meeting, and greet those in the interview with a smile and a handshake.