7 Mistakes That Cost You the Job (and How to Fix Them)
So you're landing interviews but they're not resulting in offers?
This is a problem I often hear from job seekers. While their resume is getting them in the door, they’re unable to close the interviewer and get offers.
The good news is you can identify your challenges and with interview strategies, practice, and feedback you can improve your interview performance.
If you’re not landing offers these 7 mistakes might be holding you back—and you may not even realize it! (#2 essential for getting the interviewer on your side).
Run on Answers
Mistake: Your answers are too lengthy or unfocused. You lose track of what you’re talking about and why, which loses the listener and purpose of your story.
Try this → Keep your answers concise using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to stay to the point.
If you find yourself dragging on, regain composure by making a 20 second recap to summarize your answer.
Not Practicing Your Pitch
Mistake: Your self introduction sets the tone for the interview - this is where you can or lose the interviewers attention.
Try this → Practice a concise elevator pitch that captures your skills, past experiences, enthusiasm and how you’ll bring these together to your future role.
I encourage job seekers to use the past, present, and future framework for elevator pitches or when discussing your experience with the question “Tell me about yourself”.
Not Asking Creative Questions
Mistake: Asking generic and shallow questions reflect a lack of research and enthusiasm for the role.
Try this → Ask informed questions, using information the interviewer previously gave you or ask questions about the company’s goals and challenges. Here are 5 Questions to Ask to Stand Out.
One of my favorite questions to ask is “What Gaps Are You Looking to Fill with this Role?”
This question shows that you’re thinking about the role from a problem-solving perspective. By asking about gaps, you can get a sense of the team’s current limitations and how this role can be a solution.
Offering Generic Responses
Mistake: Giving vague answers with little detail don’t help you stand out from other candidates.
Try this → Use specific examples to show your qualities. If you’re great at managing multiple tasks talk about how you ran 4 simultaneous projects and the impactful results they had on the business or team.
Not Practicing Your Answers
Mistake: Going into an interview cold can lead to anxiety, stumbling and incomplete responses.
Try this → Create a Google doc with common questions and challenging questions you’ve heard. Write out your perfect answers using frameworks like the STAR method. Use this for practice and to prepare for your next interview.
Badmouthing Previous Employers
Mistake: Speaking negatively about previous employers shows a lack of professionalism. Yes even if they were a bad company.
Try this → Frame past challenges as learning experiences and talk about what you gained from them. If a layoff comes up, remove the emotion from the situation and focus on the facts instead. Here’s how to answer difficult interview questions like a layoff.
Entering Interview Unfocused
Mistake: Jumping into an interview without mentally preparing yourself can make you feel unfocused and anxious, which will impact performance.
Try this → Practice a mood boosting activity the day of interview, whether it’s taking a walk, making a special coffee, exercising, or meditative breathing.
Be fully prepared and ready to enter the interview 10 minutes before the interview time.
Interview Coaching
With interview coaching you can diagnose where you’re having challenges with interviews, create custom solutions, and conduct mock interviews with feedback.
Here’s how interview coaching helped a recent client land a six-figure job within 1 month.
Get started with a free call with me.
