Avoid These Interview Bloopers

By Deborah Walker, Certified Career Management Coach

We've all heard stories of job candidates who looked great on paper but who were absolute disasters in person. With fewer and fewer interview opportunities available in this competitive market, it's essential to make the best possible first impression. You can learn from the mistakes of others and avoid the top 10 worst interview blunders.

Poor handshake.

The three-second handshake that starts the interview is your first opportunity to create a great impression. But all too often an interview is blown right from the start by an ineffective handshake. Once you've delivered a poor handshake, it's nearly impossible to recover your efforts to build rapport.

Even if you're a seasoned professional, don't assume you have avoided these pitfalls. Your handshake may be telling more about you than you know. Ask for honest critiques from several friends who aren't afraid to tell you the truth.

Talking too much.

In my recruiting days, I abhorred over-talkative candidates. So did most of my client employers. Over-talking takes several forms:

Taking too long to answer direct questions. The impression: This candidate just can't get to the point.

Nervous talkers. The impression: This candidate is covering up something or is outright lying.
To avoid either of these forms of over-talking, practice answering questions in a direct manner. Avoid nervous talking by preparing for your interview with role-play.

Saying negative things about past employers

The fastest way to talk yourself out of a new job is to say negative things. Even if your last boss was Attila the Hun, never, never state your ill feelings about him/her. No matter how reasonable your complaints, you will come out the loser if you show that you disrespect your boss. When faced with the challenge of talking about former employers, make sure you are prepared with a positive spin on your experiences.

Showing up late or too early.

The first lesson in job-search etiquette is to show up on time for interviews. A lot of job seekers don't realize, however, that showing up too early often creates a poor first impression as well. Arriving more than ten minutes early for an interview is a dead giveaway that the job seeker has too much time on their hands, much like the last one picked for the softball team. Don't diminish your candidate desirability by appearing desperate. Act as if your time were as valuable as theirs. Always arrive on time, but never more than ten minutes early.

Treating the receptionist rudely.

Since the first person you meet on an interview is usually a receptionist, this is also the first impression you'll make. Don't mistake low rank for low input. Often, that receptionist's job is to usher you into your interview. The receptionist has the power to pave your way positively or negatively before you even set eyes on the interviewer.

Asking about benefits, vacation time or salary.

What if a car salesman asked to see your credit report before allowing you to test drive the cars? That would be ridiculous and you'd walk away in disgust. The effect is about the same when a job seeker asks about benefits or other employee perks during the first interview. Wait until you've won the employer over before beginning that discussion.

Not preparing for the interview.

Nothing communicates disinterest like a candidate who hasn't bothered to do pre-interview research. On the flip side, the quickest way to a good impression is to demonstrate your interest with a few well thought out questions that reflect your knowledge of their organization.

Verbal ticks.

An ill-at-ease candidate seldom makes a good impression. The first signs of nervousness are verbal ticks. We all have them from time to time-umm, like, you know. Ignore the butterflies in your stomach and put up a front of calm confidence by avoiding verbal ticks. One of the best ways to reduce or eliminate them is through role play. Practice sharing your best success stories ahead of time, and you'll feel more relaxed during the real interview.

Not enough/too much eye contact.

Either situation can create a negative effect: Avoid eye contact and you'll seem shifty or untruthful; offer too much eye contact, and you'll wear the interviewer out. If you sometimes have trouble with eye-contact balance, work this out ahead of time in an interview practice session with a friend.

Failure to match communication styles.

It's almost impossible to make a good first impression if you can't communicate effectively with an interviewer. But you can easily change that situation by mirroring the way the interviewer treats you. For instance:
If the interviewer seems all business, don't attempt to loosen him/her up with a joke or story. Be succinct and businesslike.

If the interviewer is personable, try discussing his/her interests. Often the items on display in the office can be a clue.

If asked a direct question, answer directly. Then follow up by asking if more information is needed.
When you allow the interviewer to set the tone of conversation, this can vastly improve your chances of making a favorable impression. You can put the interviewer at ease and make yourself seem more like them by mirroring their communication style.

Just as a strong resume wins you an opportunity to interview, strong interview skills will win you consideration for the job. Polishing your interview skills can mean the difference between getting the job - and being a runner-up.

Start your job search with a resume that creates a stellar first impression, then back those facts up with your extraordinary interview skills. You will have made yourself a better candidate by avoiding these ten interview pitfalls and no one will have to talk about you as the candidate who "almost" got the job.

Deborah Walker , President of Alpha Advantage, Inc., is a nationally respected career coach with extensive experience as a former headhunter and corporate recruiter. Her resume and career advice is featured on more than 3,000 websites and published in professional association newsletters nationwide.