The sweaty palms, the rapid pulse, the future in the balance ”¦ the interview.
Alison J. Michaels, human resources administrator at Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and Jill Leonard Tavello, executive vice president of Culture and Communication of Stew Leonard”™s in Norwalk, and Amy Meichner, senior vice president of global human resources at Cartus in Danbury, offer tips on what blunders to avoid when trying to impress a prospective employer.
Michaels:
“Many interviewees make common mistakes that are easily corrected by preparing for an interview. Here are a few important reminders of what not to do during the interview process:
- Don”™t become too relaxed with the interviewer. Remain professional at all times.
- Don”™t respond with yes or no answers. Interviewers are looking for you to summarize your resume and provide some insight to your future aspirations.
- Don”™t forget to do research on the company you are interviewing with. Have a understanding of the company’s mission, vision and the services they provide.
- Don”™t dress too casual. Always look neat and professional no matter what the job.
- Don”™t arrive late for an interview. Plan to arrive 10 minutes ahead of schedule.
- Don”™t lie or talk about personal issues/family problems.
- Don”™t make negative comments about previous employers.”
Tavello:
“We really look for a great attitude above everything else in an interview. If we ask someone about a former job and the candidate spends a lot of time complaining about a former boss, we probably don”™t want that person.
“One time, I was trying to hire someone who had a good first interview. I tried to call this person three times. I couldn”™t get him on the telephone, so I left messages each time. When I finally got him on the telephone, he said, ”˜You don”™t listen very well. I said I had sports on the days you called.”™ And that was the end of him. We wouldn”™t want a person with that kind of attitude talking to customers like that and giving them the impression that they”™re not important.”
Meichner:
“Mistake one: lack of preparation. This means researching the company you are interviewing with (simple to do online). Know something about a potential employer”™s business and customer base. Also know which position you are interviewing for, and come prepared with questions about the nature of the work.
“Mistake two: omitting details of past work experience. Many candidates either omit or seem unfamiliar with certain data on their resumes. Make certain that your resume is complete and that the information it contains is accurate. Many companies conduct background checks, and resume inaccuracies could prevent an offer from being extended.
“Employers want specific experience that”™s related to the competencies listed in the job requirements. An interviewer may want confirmation of strong customer service experience and may ask, ”˜Tell me about a difficult customer you handled; what was the situation and what was the result?”™ Be prepared to answer definitively.”Â
