I have interviewed numerous of candidates and have observed the common practice among them. As an interview I sometimes get finicky about their answers and ends up drilling them more than I have expected! J
In this blog I am trying to summarize few of the common issues that I have observed while taking an interview.
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Candidate tries to hide facts by lying to the interviewer.
Well! Although it may appear to be a correct approach at initial stage but the interview proceeds, the interviewer is smart enough to trace the hidden factor. Thus, by all means gloss over the unflattering things. But out-right fibbing NEVER pays.
Mark Twain said: "If you tell the truth, you never have to remember anything." Think about it else you will be exposed at later stage which might be embarrassing to you!
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People tend to speak bad words about the current employer or boss.
I understand you are completely frustrated with your current job and would give anything to leave because they've treated you badly? Well! I would say that your job interview is NOT the time to take revenge.
If the candidate respond negatively about the current company or boss, I am curious to understand the nature of the person. I would also like to understand if he would be a suitable person for the organization. Is a critic personality? Ask yourself: do you like working with people who constantly criticise others? Isn't it a bit wearing? The trouble is that the interviewer draws massive conclusions from your answers. So your throwaway comment about your boss or employer may be interpreted to be your "standard" way of thinking. It makes you look bad, not your employer.
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People tend to be either too friendly or rude during interview.
There have been instances where the candidates try to be very friendly. As a rule of thumb, avoid cracking jokes about potentially sensitive topics and beware of being too "pally" with the interviewer: polite and friendly is enough. After all, you're not in the pub with them. If you find you were accidentally rude, then apologize calmly and genuinely and then get on with the rest of the interview. If you dwell on it, it will affect your performance. What's "rude"? Well, that depends on your audience. A person like me may get offensive on such response from candidate. So stay professional. Also bear in mind that you?re each word during the interview will be considered in the selection process.
4. Not Being Prepared
Re-read the relevant version of your CV and the job advert, just before the interview. You'd be surprised how many people can't remember what they wrote on their CV. And if you remember what type of person the job advert was looking for, it's easier to demonstrate that you have those qualities. Make sure you've brought with you anything you were asked for. For instance: As a general rule, the more famous the brand, the more they will expect you to have done your homework. Researching the company shows you're serious about the job. It shows you're taking the job application seriously. Ill-prepared candidates rarely get job offers.
5. First impression is the last impression; if it?s weak it may change the interview perceptions.
Making notions or perceptions is a human tendency and we cannot expect an interviewer to be neutral always! So, unfortunately, no matter how hard the interviewer tries, a lot of "don't want to hire them" decisions are made in the first few minutes of contact. If you make a strong first impression, the interviewer will be more inclined to overlook "imperfections" in your answers.
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