7 Ways to Bomb Your Interview

When going on job interviews, you want to put your best foot forward--not put your foot in your mouth. Here’s some common job interview mistakes to avoid.

Talking Too Much
While it’s good to be engaged in conversation, if you keep going on and on about something that you’ve achieved, you run the risk of boring the pants off of your interviewer. Running off on a tangent can
also make you look flaky.

What’s That?
Did you hear exactly what the interviewer just said? No? Then your answer probably isn’t going to impress your interviewer. Poor listening skills won’t get you the job.


Too Laid Back
Some interviewers will make you feel very relaxed and comfortable with your surroundings. Chit chat about non-work related subjects is used to warm things up before the real interview questions.
Don’t assume this is the perfect time to tell your best jokes, talk about shopping, or your vacation. If the conversation drifts into a little casual banter, stay focused, professional, and quickly move back to the main topic of discussion.

Big Head
You think of yourself as a leader. You want to make sure the interviewer “knows” that you’ve got the right stuff for this position. You sprinkle a lot of “I” instead of “We” into your conversation. The
interviewer perceives you as being arrogant and not the team player they are looking for.

Um. . . I Don’t Know
You failed to do adequate research about the company or job position. The interviewer has asked you a specific question about how you would handle such and such in their organization. You scratch your
head and come up with a lame answer. Next! 

Cat Got Your Tongue?
You can’t think of a single thing to ask the interviewer. Maybe you really aren’t interested in this job. 

You Show Up Late
This is the worst thing you can do on an interview, because it creates a bad impression of you from the start. If you’re late for an important interview, maybe you’ll be late for important meetings, etc.
Time is money. If you know you’re going to be late, call ahead of time and try to reschedule.