Learn to identify and fix some situations so you don’t make the same mistakes again
Identify some symptoms that you are going bad at job interview it is important to try to reverse the situation or at least prevent mistakes from recurring. Here are five of these key signs and tips from Renata Wright, HR division manager at recruiting firm Michael Page, to get the conversation going in the right direction.
Know when you are going bad at the job interview
1. The interviewer does not ask many questions
When the conversation is interesting, it usually arouses the curiosity of the interviewer, who asks one question after another. “A lot of people have the feeling that they are not doing exactly when they have to answer a lot, but it is exactly the opposite,” says Renata. The tip in case of lack of interest (or subject) is to try to liven up the conversation, giving more complete answers, with more curious information and a more engaging tone.
2. The interviewer’s questions have nothing to do with what you were talking about
If you notice that, when you finish saying something, the interviewer doesn’t hook you with what you just said and moves on to a new topic, either: you answered everything he wanted to know, and he gave up satisfied, or you didn’t understand what he was asking. Unfortunately the second alternative is the most likely.
For this situation, Renata’s tip is very clear. First, listen carefully the interviewer’s questions. Then, direct your speech according to the questions he asks. “The more professional experience you have, the more stories you will certainly have to tell, but you need to understand that each position worked on the market has its urgencies and the interviewer will focus the interview on that,” she says. Your role, then, is whether focus on what he needs and wants to know – and not in what seems most interesting to you.
3. You are wearing jeans and everyone else is wearing a suit (or vice versa)
Although many people say that appearance is not everything, it is a fact that it influences the impression that people will have of you. “A lot of people think that dressing well is dressing formally, but it is not,” says Renata. “To dress well is to be dressed appropriately for the context”, he explains. The tip, to soften the gaffe, is to apologize to the interviewer.
“You can say that after the interview there is a formal event or that today is a casual day at the company where you work and that you didn’t have time to change,” recommends Renata. If the excuse doesn’t fit, at least you will demonstrate that you noticed the faux pas and knew how to read the environment (albeit with delay). “It’s better to talk than to be quiet and pretend you didn’t notice anything.”
4. You let out slang in the middle of the conversation
The fault is serious and can hardly be repaired. “You will not have time to change the impression that the interviewer had of you because you will not have a great deal of contact with him”, says Renata.
Language addictions, slang and bad words always give a negative connotation, she adds. Of course, you can, and should, apologize immediately if something like that escapes your mouth. Again, it is better to apologize than to say nothing and pretend you didn’t notice.
However, the ideal – always – is to avoid these expressions, regardless of how good the interviewer may appear to be or a good friend.
5. You accidentally spoke ill of your former boss
Under no circumstances should you criticize former managers or companies you went through. It is a type of error that has no turning back. So, if you had a troubled departure from the previous company and don’t want to be in a tight skirt when talking about it, prepare the speech at home.
It is important to think beforehand, with a clear head and away from the nervousness of the interview, how you will tell the story in a discreet way, without speaking ill of anyone. Another interesting tip is to talk about the subject spontaneously, before the interviewer asks. “This tends to make him ask fewer questions,” says Renata.
On the other hand, if you omit or try to get past that point, you can pique his curiosity and he will possibly investigate the matter more closely. “You can say that you quit your job because of the lack of involvement of the company’s strategy with what you believe in,” says Renata. “It’s a more generalized way of speaking without saying what you thought was right or wrong,” she says.
Understand what company values are and what value selection is
This justification can also demonstrate that you understand the need to find a company aligned with your values. THE selection by valuesin fact, it is a type of contracting that has been gaining a lot of space in companies.
This is because companies understand that when they hire people with values aligned with theirs, they will have a more solid and lasting relationship. If you are not familiar with this term, it is interesting to know that “values” define the way companies behave and also the behavior they expect from their professionals.
For all these reasons, before the interview, it is interesting to check on the company’s website what your values are and try to understand what they mean and what they have (or not) to do with what you believe.
To learn more, also read our post Do you understand what the company’s values are?.
Summary of tips to do better in the job interview
Briefly, the expert’s tips for not making mistakes and doing better in the job interview are:
- understand the interviewer’s question and focus the answer on what he wants to know;
- give complete answers, with beginning, middle and end;
- research how people who work at the company dress and try to choose a similar outfit;
- be careful what you say. It is important not to miss out on Portuguese slang and errors;
- do not speak ill of anyone, especially your former employer;
- know the company’s values and understand if they have to do with you.
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