Opportunity does not knock, it presents itself when you beat down the door.
Kyle Chandler
Interview Turnoffs – Interview does sound a huge opportunity for every professional; be it your first interview or second or many the eagerness and anxiety to convert the interview call is still the same. Have you had goose bumps for losing the job opportunity once you see an invitation of job interview in the mail box? Do you feel you are inappropriate with regards to some of the requisites prospects when you are going for the job interview? ….if yes, then you must need to understand that it’s time for you to make changes before you crack another interview and face any disappointment. The professional environment of industry is different from one sector to another and depending upon the demand of work but what remains same across all sectors is the disciple of the workplace that needs to be managed and regulated by the people working in.
A professional is well regarded and rewarded for many reasons apart from his work achievements, as new comer in the industry one need to understand the guidelines that may not be mention in the invitation letter but they are followed strictly across industry. Cracking at interview call may not be the most difficult thing you have come across but presenting yourself in the most appropriate manner like any other professional can be a task to learn. An unprofessional attitude or in appropriate approach is completely unacceptable across industries, as an employee you may be representing the organization and a taint on public image is considered improper and is not at all tolerated. So let us understand what all is important for an individual who is going to attend an interview turnoffs to avoid any situation of being rejected due to interview turnoffs displayed by him or her.
Wait, you need to read this before you leave your house for an interview today, it may be extremely helpful and informative at the same time…the below mentioned are the ten interview turnoffs that you need to make sure to avoid today.
#1 – Interview Turnoffs – Improper Dress-code
Interview is not about meeting your friends where you’re clothes, its colour, shoes or slippers don’t matter. Think about it……. You are going to meet a professional to present yourself for an opportunity and therefore, the approach needs to be professional too. Your clothes, shoes, bag etc. clearly gives first impression about your personality to the interviewer; he can assess the approach you may carry for your work ‘Formal approach means professional delivery’. An informal dressing depicts ones casual approach and being not serious for the opportunity.
It would be easy to misjudge one with an inappropriate dressing by the interview panel. It’s not important to wear expensive clothes but they need to be clean, ironed and basic in colour tone. Wearing a t-shirt or loose trouser pants is a strict no-no for an interview, such attire might make the interviewer feel as if you have come for a lousy day outing and attending interview is just a formality. Decent light colours would bring all the attention towards you during the interview, creating a nice impression about you.
#2 – Interview Turnoffs – No information on the recruiter
Getting an interview call is not enough; you need to know the company’s information in and out before you attend the interview. The interviewer expects the interviewee to come prepared with respect to having all the required documentation well in series, any clique at the interview desk would create an embarrassing situation for both the parties. It’s important to pay attention at the requirement of the interview position and then apply for it. If it is a marketing opportunity then all the marketing assignment done by you must be on your mind as well as a summary of that on your CV to avoid any confusion. You must read well about the company’s information to understand how they work and ask question about your own feasibility in the organization.
#3 – Interview Turnoffs – Unpunctual
Today money and time goes parallel……you value time; money will come to you automatically. Have you thought about it before? If not, then make it the first thing on your checklist this time before you hit the interview. Time is self-managed and discipline follows it, you need to know this for making a positive impression at the interview. No one likes to entertain a candidate who comes late with lame excuses as there may be chances he would do the same if recruited by the organization. Getting it rescheduled is acceptable given a genuine reason but making it a habit is completely unprofessional. Reaching early to the interview venue will not harm you at all rather it will give you time to get accustomed to the environment, giving you a chance to interact with people working for the same organization as well as those who are there for the interview purpose. So don’t be late for your interview at any given time as disciple would surely enhance the chances of making to an opportunity.
#4 – Interview Turnoffs – Unpreparedness
It’s very important to be prepared for the interview. If you do not have your updated resume, or you are not mentally prepared for the interview, it can prove fatal because being prepared reveals your active and responsible personality. Interviews being the very step towards your new organisation, it becomes very necessary for the applicant to have an up-to-date resume and know what all has been mentioned in it, which includes your qualifications, achievements, etc. Make sure you have specific and certain answers to every question that an interviewer might ask. Be prepared for any unexpected question or situation that the interviewer might put up. Being prepared means being absolutely ready in terms of dress, documents and mental level.
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#5 – Interview Turnoffs – Poor Body Language
Interviewers do not like hiring applicants who are uptight, or possess closed personalities. If you appear tired or sad, the interviewer will not select you for the desired job. Hence, the body language plays a major role while selection process in an interview. Sitting straight with a warm smile, or firm handshake, having a positive aura around you, etc. are very important.
Listening properly and answering without rambling are the key factors. Laid back attitude, crossed arms or legs, etc. convey that the job applicant is not interested in the interview, thus, creating a negative image. Being angry or aggressive or carrying an “I-Know-It-All” attitude might create a problem as well.
Body Language also includes the smell. Appearing in an interview after a smoke or lunch is a interview turnoffs. The fragrance or perfume that you put is important as well. Do not put too much of the perfume thinking that it might take a lot of time in the interview, as it might work against you. A light flowery fragrance for ladies or light musk cologne for gents can be a great choice during an interview.
#6 – Interview Turnoffs – Positive or Negative comments about last jobs
The interviewer will ask about your last job, if you have any prior experience. Questions like “why did you leave your last job?”, or “how was your experience in the last organisation?” so on and so forth. Play smart because this is a very tricky situation. Emphasize more on your responsibilities and achievements in the organisation, rather than commenting on the negative or positive sides of your previous organisations.
Remember not to make any negative remarks about your boss, management, or the work culture of the last company you’ve worked with. A lot of positive comments can ruin the situation as well, because this will show that you are still dwelling upon your last organisation and have a lot of expectations pre-conceived in your mind.
#7 – Interview Turnoffs – Being too straight-forward and bragging about yourself
It’s good to be honest and straight-forward when it comes to telling about yourself and your experience, or it might question your integrity. However, revealing about your weaknesses, or unhealthy habits, etc. will take your interview down in the drain. It’s always advisable to talk about those weaknesses on which you have been working upon to improve yourself.
Talking about yourself and telling about your achievements is good, however, bragging about yourself is a major interview turnoffs. The interviewers do not like applicants who use “I” all the time, especially when mentioning any achievement in particular. It’s always good to take into consideration the efforts being put in by the entire team, which shows that you are a team player and respect the efforts that everyone has made.
#8 – Interview Turnoffs – Unfit Resume
The CV or resume should be presentable and properly formatted. The key to a good resume is “stick to the basics”. Make sure that the font and colour that you use is the same for the entire resume and not different for different sections. Use Aerial or Times New Roman and use Black colour as these are considered formal.
Resume reveals everything about you as it is the only source of information that the interviewer has, even before the job applicant has appeared for the interview. You have to be very careful while framing the resume. Go through sample resume over the internet. Check that all the necessary details have been mentioned in a brief and clear way.
Another thing that’s important is your email-address. It should be formal and have your name on it like johnbrown @ abc . com, rather than something funky like sugarbaby @ whatever . com, or hellboy @ something . com. etc.
A resume should have clear and complete information about your contact details, your goal or objective, your qualifications, work experiences, and achievements.
#9 – Interview Turnoffs – Leave your cell phone ON
Keeping your cell phone on, during an interview, can take you to the exit door if it rings or even vibrates. Remember that you are not a president or a business tycoon that you need to attend every call or peep into your phone screen for every message. It’s very important to keep your phone either on silent or simply switch it off during the interview. You are sitting in an interview which decides your career path in the future, so any call or message can wait till you complete the interview. Using a cell phone is a major interview turnoffs in an interview because it shows unprofessionalism and gives an idea of insincerity and disrespect towards the interviewer.
#10 – Interview Turnoffs – Not asking questions
It’s always important to know ask questions or clear your doubts in case you have not understood what you’re being asked about, as it shows that you are participative and believe in clear and crisp conversation. Not only this, but also asking about the company’s culture or its growth policy, etc. is significant. Therefore, it becomes crucial for the interviewee to ask questions about the organisation, like its promotion policy, work culture, roles and responsibilities and expectations that the organisation has from the applicant. Asking questions also exhibits your interest in the job role that you’ve applied for. It also shows that you are ready for the new role, thus, conveying you’re responsible and dynamic personality traits.
So are you ready for your next interview, it is always good to know what you don’t know and important to practice new suggestion as this is called the learning curve of life. Interview is an opportunity and taking advantage of any opportunity is the right growth path for professional success. Letting go of a chance to make it to a level or a position you deserve depending upon your calibre and education would be a foolish thing. On the top having a reason for rejection by showing interview turnoffs at the interview session is all the more heinous. It is very sure that if you will keep these three suggestions in mind before you leave for an interview your chances of converting the call is definitely higher as well as brighter. So don’t think much and start preparing yourself today.
