Now that you know what to do during an interview, here are 5 things that you should NEVERdo during an interview!
Don’t Ask about compensation! I know it’s tempting…the interviewer is explaining to your the typical daily routine here, and yet, all you can think about is how big of a paycheck you’ll be getting every two weeks. I implore that you refrain from asking that question. Once they tell you that you’ve landed the job, then you may ask away!
Don’t Undermine yourself! So you’re at the interview, and they ask you the dreaded question “What’s your biggest weakness?” Deep down you know that you have the worst case of procrastination and that you literally can’t get things done unless it’s the night before. If you don’t want to get the job, please, by all means, tell them that! However, if you do want the job and maintain your honesty, you can always answer in a way that highlights your strengths! Even though you procrastinate like crazy, you can tell them that you don’t always complete tasks as soon as they’re assigned, but because of this, you have learned to work great under pressure!
Don’t Panic. Remember, an interview is just a conversation. It’s good if you remember that. The worst thing you could do is get worked up and nervous about it. Most of the time, the interviewer is just as nervous, if not more so, than the interviewee. The worst thing that can happen is that you don’t fit the role of which they are looking for. If that becomes the case, you just go ahead and start massively applying yet again!
Don’t Arrive late! Getting to your interview on time is essential to getting the job. By coming in late, you’ve already proven to the interviewers that you are not organized or trustworthy. It was over before it even began. I understand that sometimes life gets messy and things happen to cause you to be late. In order to anticipate such an event, be sure to leave extra early. That being said, don’t walk in there 2 hours before the scheduled interview either. Hang around at a local coffee shop or something until there’s 15 mins left before your interview.
Don’t Get TOO comfortable! There are times where you’ll go on an interview and the person conducting it will be really mellow and down to earth. The complete opposite of what you’d expect out of an interview. That might make you feel at ease, almost as if you can talk to this person like they are your College classmate. Right? WRONG! It’s a trap! (insert admiral ackbar meme here) Being too comfortable may leave you with a “thanks for coming, we’ll call you” response. This is a way that interviewers probe for details that you normally would never bring up during an interview. So remember, relax, but not like you’re at home.