What to Avoid During a Job Interview

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.

Steps to Accomplish Getting Your First Job after College

Searching for a job after college graduation is a full-time job within itself. I realized quickly how important time management skills are when trying to juggle being a full-time student and running a full-time job search.

Often I find myself reading articles via LinkedIn or Facebook pertaining to advice and tips on obtaining a job after graduation. January may seem early to be thinking about applying for jobs after graduation, but May will be here before I know it. I read a recent article from Forbes.com I found helpful in my job seeking process that explained several steps you must accomplish to get your first job after college. I emphasized a few of the steps below that I believe are the most important for soon-to-be college graduates.

Create a LinkedIn profile.

LinkedIn is a vital tool college students, like myself, must take advantage of in their job search. Statistics show that 94% of recruiters use LinkedIn to source candidates. LinkedIn acts as a digital version of your résumé and allows you infinite space to describe yourself versus the one page limit of the traditional résumé. LinkedIn allows you to connect with professionals in your industry. My professors at High Point University encourage us to send out our résumé and start making connections ASAP. Networking has become a vital step in my job search process and LinkedIn allows making professional connections easier. The number of active users on LinkedIn is exponentially increasing and it has become one of my favorite social media sites.

Get an internship as early as possible.

Internships provide valuable experience to students who are interested in pursuing their dream career following graduation. Along with valuable experience, internships offer various advantages. Getting your foot in the door with a potential employer is extremely important. Making yourself known within the company, networking and making connections with fellow colleagues, and proving your worth as a strong asset to the company increases your chances of being offered future employment.

Another advantage of working an internship early on is to “test drive” a career. Internships can help you decide the best industry and career path for you. This past summer, I applied for a marketing internship position with a company. I chose marketing because I am studying business administration and marketing. The internship did not work out as planned but the HR manager of the company offered me an internship working with the HR department. I had not taken any classes in HR and was nervous to jump into something I had very little knowledge of. It actually was a blessing I received the HR intern position because I fell in love with HR and I plan to pursue a career in HR after graduation. Even if you are slightly interested in a field, try to obtain an internship and gain a “real world” perspective on the occupation.    

Use your school’s career services office.

The Career & Internship Services office at High Point University provides students with resources to strengthen their résumé and cover letter, practice interviewing, search employment opportunities, and engage in career and internship showcases. Before sending out my résumé to potential employers, I met with a career ambassador who reviewed my résumé and cover letter and gave me suggestions for improvement. I highly suggest soon-to-be college graduates to take advantage of their school’s career services office.

 

Creating a strong LinkedIn profile, gaining internship experience early on and taking advantage of their school’s career services office are ways soon-to-be college graduates can increases their chances of landing a full-time job after college.