Posts Tagged ‘interviewing’
10 Ways to Be Liked In Your Job Interview
According to a recent article published in Yahoo News, the following is a list of 10 ways that you can increase the likelihood of being liked during a job interview. For the full article, please click here.
10 Ways to Be Liked in Your Job Interview [originally posted by Yahoo Hot Jobs]
- Don’t be a “smiley face.”Excessive smiling in a job interview is seen for what it is — nervousness and a lack of confidence.
- Don’t be a small-talker.Your job is to be knowledgeable about the company for which you’re interviewing.
- Don’t sweat.You can lose a job by wearing an undershirt or simply a little too much clothing. Sweaty palms or beads on your forehead will not impress.
- Don’t be a road block.Interviewers are seeking candidates eager to take on challenging projects and jobs. Hesitance and a nay-saying mentality will be as visible as a red tie — and seen as a negative.
- Don’t be petty.Asking the location of the lunchroom or meeting room will clue the interviewer into your lack of preparation and initiative. Prepare.
- Don’t be a liar.Studies show that employees lie frequently in the workplace. Lying won’t get you a job. In a job interview even a slight exaggeration is lying. Don’t.
- Don’t be a bad comedian.Humor tends to be very subjective, and while it may be tempting to lead your interview with a joke you’ve got to be careful about your material.
- Don’t be high-maintenance.Nobody hiring today is going to be looking for someone who’s going to be finicky about their workspace.
- Don’t be a time-waster.At every job interview, the prospective hire is given the chance to ask questions. Make yours intelligent, to the point, and watch the person across the desk for visual cues whether you’ve asked enough.
- Don’t be a switchblade. Normally the switchblade is thought of a backstabber, often taking credit for someone else’s work. In an interview setting, the switchblade can’t help but “trash talk” his former employer. If you make it seem like your former workplace was hell on Earth, it won’t bode well for the rest of the interview.

You’ve Landed the Interview…Now, Don’t Screw it Up!
Due to the economy being in the dumps, it is becoming increasingly difficult for people to even land interviews let alone jobs. However, for the few who are lucky enough to score an interview, now’s your time to shine- so don’t mess it up! As a potential job candidate, it’s normal (and ok) to be nervous about having to interview for a job. That being said, the following are some things to keep in mind while you’re interviewing:
10 Things to NEVER Say or Do During an Interview
- How much does the job pay? This is not an appropriate question to ask at the first interview. Typically, prior to interviewing, you should have looked up the job where they would have given some mention to the salary. If not, you should familiarize yourself with the industry to know what people in that position typically make.
- Do not use slang words. It should go without saying that you should be on your best verbal behaviour. No one appreciates hearing someone use slang because it makes them judge you as being less educated at times.
- What are the benefits/bonuses? It’s good to have confidence, but asking questions like these can make it seem like you are overly confident and sometimes selfish. Let them bring it up first before you discuss it.
- Do not use profane language. No one likes a ‘potty mouth’. Cursing proves nothing except that you have a limited vocabulary and can’t think of anything better to say…plus it sounds bad and makes you (again) look uneducated.
- Do not criticize or put down former employers or employment. Putting down anyone when they are not there to defend themselves is always bad. Not only is this bad, but it lets your current employer know that you will do the same thing to them.
- If asked about having weaknesses, respond with something other than ‘No’. The worst thing you could do when asked what your weakenesses are is to respond that you don’t have any. Not only does it make you look cocky; but it will also send of red flags to your employer that you are a liar.
- Do not divulge personal details about your life. Remind yourself that you are there as a professional who is attending an interview- not a session with your therapist. No one wants or particularly cares to hear about your life chapter by chapter. if any personal questions are asked, be as honest as you can but also as brief. Like oil and water, work and personal things shouldn’t really mix.
- Do not slouch. You could have the worst posture in the world, but your employer shouldn’t know this. Sit up straight and look attentive.
- Do not use stereotypes. We live in a society in which it is no longer ok to put people’s culture, race or other ethnic identities down. If you find that your employer is egging you on to do so, then perhaps you should re-think whether or not you want to work for such a person.
- Do not ‘not’ follow up afterwards. Always follow up with the interview afterwards. This can be in the form of a phone call or email simply thanking the employer for the opportunity to sit down and discuss your qualifications.







