What interview mistakes should candidates avoid?
Prepare for the role and company, arrive on time, dress appropriately, and keep steady eye contact with calm body language. Give thoughtful, unscripted answers, avoid early salary talk, don't badmouth employers, and send a brief thank-you.
After everything you’ve learned so far, it’s time for a quick recap to see the common mistakes you must absolutely avoid during interviews:
- Not maintaining natural eye contact
- Giving one-word answers like yes and no
- Giving scripted answers in a robotic tone
- Bringing up salary-related topics before you are certain that you’ve won over the recruiters
- Giving lengthy answers that are longer than 2 minutes
- Dressing inappropriately
- Being fidgety and having a bad body language
- Getting to the interview late or arriving too early
- Checking your phone during the interview
- Not knowing enough about the job and the company
- Lying on your resume
- Losing focus during the interview
- Talking too much or being overconfident
- Speaking negatively about past employers
- Lacking enthusiasm
- Forgetting to bring your resume and important documents
- Not asking the right questions
- Discussing personal topics
- Not sending a thank you letter
You can save this list as a reference to help you during your preparation.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What interview mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid one-word or scripted answers, poor eye contact, bad body language, checking your phone, arriving late or too early, and speaking negatively about past employers. Do not lie on your resume or forget to bring your resume and important documents.
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How long should your answers be in an interview?
Keep responses concise. Avoid giving lengthy answers that are longer than 2 minutes.
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When should you discuss salary in an interview?
Do not bring up salary-related topics before you are certain that you’ve won over the recruiters.
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Is it okay to arrive very early to an interview?
No, getting to the interview late or arriving too early is a mistake.
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Should you send a thank you letter after an interview?
Yes, send a thank you letter after the interview.
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Is it acceptable to check your phone during an interview?
No, checking your phone during the interview is a mistake.
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What body language should you avoid in an interview?
Avoid being fidgety and having a bad body language, and not maintaining natural eye contact.
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Should you bring your resume to an interview?
Yes, bring your resume and important documents.
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How should you talk about past employers in an interview?
Do not speak negatively about past employers.
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What type of answers should you avoid giving in an interview?
Avoid one-word answers like yes and no, scripted answers in a robotic tone, and answers longer than 2 minutes.
