Avoid 7 Mistakes in Interviews

June 21, 2024•2 min read

Avoid These 7 Mistakes At Your Next Job Interview

1. Coming Unprepared: 📚

The scouts say, "Be Prepared." If it works to survive in the woods, it’ll work to survive a trip to the office.

Do your homework about the company, the role, and how your skills can help them advance the team or department.

2. Checking Your Phone:📱

This is a no-brainer but potentially devastating. Your phone should be out of sight and on silent mode. A buzzing phone shows disrespect to the interviewer.

3. Vague and Unclear Answers:🤷‍♂️

The reason most people give unclear answers is because they don’t fully understand the question.

Do not hesitate to ask a clarifying question, like this one:

“I’m sorry, I want to make sure I’m 100% clear about what you’re asking. Can you say more?”

4. Poor Body Language: 👀

Non-verbal communication provides the energetic context of the meeting. Does it feel like you’re on the same side, or enemies? This kind of stuff is decided by your body language.

Maintain eye contact when the interviewer speaks. Make a little bit of eye contact when you speak.

Sit up straight. Be your tallest self. Breathe deeply.

5. Negativity: 😕

The most common mistake people make in interviews — and it costs them the job — is going on a rant.

Whether it’s about your previous job, boss, colleagues, clients, or customers, avoid any venting. Focus on your abilities and your love of the work you do.

6. Talking More, Listening Less:👂

Speaking is less important than listening. Straight up, hands down.

Make sure there's a balance in your conversation. Show respect towards the interviewer's thoughts and perspective. Invite them to speak any chance you get.

This can be to clarify, ask for their opinion, or ask about something related to the team/company.

Don’t wait until the end to ask questions. Try to sneak them in during the interview.

7. Leaving Without Grace 🙏

The way you exit matters just as much as your entrance. Show gratitude for the opportunity. Leave with warmth and confidence.

Avoiding these 7 mistakes will drastically increase your chances of leaving a positive impression on the interviewer.

Remember, you don’t need to “prove yourself.”

You just need them to enjoy the conversation enough to invite you back for another one.

Do that enough, you’ll get the job.

Warmly,

Dave Wolovsky
Your Career Growth Engineer

More Resources

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Dave Wolovsky

I was home schooled until 13 years old. Always a quiet introvert. Overly sensitive to others' discomfort. I was scared to ask for things. Waited for others to offer. Waited and waited. After a horrible job experience... ⚠️ Strangled by my own anxiety. ⚠️ Desperate to impress my bosses. ⚠️ "Stuck it out" until I got physically ill. I realized I needed to grow as a person. To ask for what I needed. To persuade with empathy. To negotiate without conflict. I dove deep into understanding people: ▪︎ Neuroscience (got a masters in it) ▪︎ Positive psychology (a certification) ▪︎ Negotiation (books, courses, teaching). Then I realized lots of people had difficulties like me. And I became committed to helping people get paid what they're worth. An early client got a $35k raise, while cutting back to a 4-day workweek. I wrote down everything we did. Conversations along the way. The mistakes along the way. I created a set of principles. Called it "Empathic Influence & Negotiation." Applied it to salary negotiations. Applied it to job interviews. Applied it to networking. And then I found Mindfulness. That added some next level juice. I created the "Mindful Sprint" process. And now I help talented introverts become Mindful Sprinters. This kind of personal growth creates: ✓ Better job opportunities. ✓ Higher compensations. ✓ Stronger boundaries. Without creating: 🚫 Confrontational situations. 🚫 Resentful relationships. 🚫 Suffocating stress. We navigate social complexities: ▪︎ Being a team player, not a pushover. ▪︎ Asking for a raise collaboratively. ▪︎ Making your value fully visible. With me, you're not getting an extroverted former CEO. I won't insist that you have to "command the room." You ARE getting a partner to help you: ▪︎ Shine a floodlight on your value. ▪︎ Stay authentically introverted. ▪︎ Meet you where you're at. Expect to be empowered: ▪︎ Do things you've never done before. ▪︎ Learn the science of negotiation. ▪︎ Experience true mindfulness.

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I was home schooled until 13 years old.

Always a quiet introvert.

Overly sensitive to others' discomfort.

I was scared to ask for things.

Waited for others to offer.

Waited and waited.

After a horrible job experience...

⚠️ Strangled by my own anxiety.

⚠️ Desperate to impress my bosses.

⚠️ "Stuck it out" until I got physically ill.

I realized I needed to grow as a person.

To ask for what I needed.

To persuade with empathy.

To negotiate without conflict.

I dove deep into understanding people:

▪︎ Neuroscience (got a masters in it)

▪︎ Positive psychology (a certification)

▪︎ Negotiation (books, courses, teaching).

Then I realized lots of people had difficulties like me.

And I became committed to helping people get paid what they're worth.

An early client got a $35k raise, while cutting back to a 4-day workweek.

I wrote down everything we did.

Conversations along the way.

The mistakes along the way.

I created a set of principles.

Called it "Empathic Influence & Negotiation."

Applied it to salary negotiations.

Applied it to job interviews.

Applied it to networking.

And then I found Mindfulness.

That added some next level juice.

I created the "Mindful Sprint" process.

And now I help talented introverts become Mindful Sprinters.

This kind of personal growth creates:

✓ Better job opportunities.

✓ Higher compensations.

✓ Stronger boundaries.

Without creating:

🚫 Confrontational situations.

🚫 Resentful relationships.

🚫 Suffocating stress.

We navigate social complexities:

▪︎ Being a team player, not a pushover.

▪︎ Asking for a raise collaboratively.

▪︎ Making your value fully visible.

With me, you're not getting an extroverted former CEO.

I won't insist that you have to "command the room."

You ARE getting a partner to help you:

▪︎ Shine a floodlight on your value.

▪︎ Stay authentically introverted.

▪︎ Meet you where you're at.

Expect to be empowered:

▪︎ Do things you've never done before.

▪︎ Learn the science of negotiation.

▪︎ Experience true mindfulness.