50% of hiring managers believe that the way a candidate dresses can be grounds for elimination within the interview process. If something as simple as that can throw away your chances, what else should you be avoiding?
We’ve spoken in the past about how to succeed in an interview, and what kinds of questions you can expect. What about the other end of the spectrum?
Lying
We are all guilty of exaggerating a bit on certain aspects of our lives when selling ourselves to somebody, but downright lying is never going to get you what you want. Nobody wants to drown in lies when questioned.
Stick to the truth – it’s much easier to keep consistent.
Being Arrogant or Cocky
It’s okay to have confidence in an interview setting; in fact, it’s recommended.
But sometimes there’s a fine line between being confident about the job or yourself and being arrogant. If your interviewer finds it hard to get along with your personality in a confined interview setting, then there’s no chance they’ll want to put up with it in the long run.
George Clooney, an esteemed actor, said, “You never really learn much from hearing yourself speak.” So use these words and listen more than you talk.
Poor Body Language
We’ve spoken before about how body language is 55% of communication.
This means avoiding eye contact, shaking hands with a limp, floppy grip, and crossing your arms in defence; three things to avoid.
If you can do the opposite of those three things, then you’re already presenting yourself with confidence. Don’t let them write you off before the interview starts!
‘Up-Talking’
In short, making your voice higher at the end of a sentence.
What does this do? How can you avoid it? Read those sentences and see for yourself.
If you make everything you say into a question by raising your pitch (such as ‘I think I would be good for the job’), then you sound unsure. And if you’re unsure, then why should the Hiring Manager have any faith in you?
If you would like to know more about presenting yourself in an interview, then contact one of our expert consultants at 02031 764 790.
