Job seekers have a pretty good
idea of what the hiring manager expects from them during an interview. Most
candidates know the basics: dress professionally, maintain eye contact, display
manners and confidence, and bring extra copies of your résumé and references.
Through my research in my job search, I came across some pet peeves of hiring
professionals that I wanted to share with my fellow classmates to avoid during
their job search.
When candidates apply for every
position available within the company, it gives off a “desperate” impression to
the hiring manager. Do not send out mass
job applications just because you are frantic to land a job after
graduation. Hiring managers will easily pick up on your desperate attempts and
see it as a lack of focus or drive to obtain a specific position.
Hiring managers oftentimes
automatically dismiss résumés with spelling errors, grammar mistakes, or
missing information. One of the worst things a candidate could do is to
exaggerate on previous job duties in order to impress the hiring manager. Misrepresentation by stretching the
truth about a position will not do you any favors. On my résumé, I have a brief
description of what my job responsibilities entailed and if asked about them
during an interview, I provide an example of how I demonstrated a specific
duty. How embarrassing would it be if the hiring manager asked you about a job responsibility
you had listed on your résumé and you were not able to explain the duty in
detail or you forgot you even listed it on your résumé? Only list accurate data
regarding personal information, your education, skills, and professional
experience.
Time management skills are vital
in any professional career. Being late
to the interview shows the hiring manager that you are unreliable,
unappreciative of their time and not entirely serious about the position. To
avoid running late, I always map out the distance it will take me to get to the
office. I take into consideration the time of day, whether it be rush hour in
the morning or late afternoon. If the office is not too far from home, I will
drive to the office the day before to ensure I know the location and to prevent
panic the day of the interview.
One of the most common
distributed pieces of advice for all interviewees is to research the company
and job position beforehand. Lack of
preparation appears as laziness to the hiring manager. There is a vast
amount of information available to candidates and yet many still do not
complete their homework prior to the interview. This advice is highly stressed
at HPU from our professors that being prepared is key to a strong interview.
Before an interview, I google the company and research any recent news
regarding the business or industry. I prepare several questions in regards to
the future of the company by tying in some of my research to impress the hiring
manager.
Although many of these aspects of
a job interview may seem obvious to avoid, many candidates still seem to make
these mistakes. Be prepared, on time, and represent your true self. By
following these tips, you can ensure the hiring manager that you are a strong
candidate for the position.