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What should I avoid during an interview?

ESS Candidate Newsletter – March 2019

Columbus, OH • March 01, 2019

In this month’s, ask the recruiter, we discuss what you should not do during an interview.

Introduction – Aaron Wandtke
Positions Filled in the last 30 days|
Ask the Recruiter “What should I avoid during an interview?”

Introduction:

Our company recently converted to a new applicant tracking system.  Prior to our conversion, we did hours of research, and weeks of testing. After several more weeks of training on the new system, we sadly realized that the new system was just not right for us. No matter how hard we tried, we could not get the results we needed to make this new system work.  Therefore, we decided to go back to our previous system.  Although this was a frustrating experience, it renewed our faith in our previous tracking system and forced us to reevaluate our research and decision making processes.  Just like evaluating a new role or career, we questioned the direction and long-term implications of staying on a path with which we were not 100% comfortable.

Is your current role challenging? If not, really ask yourself how satisfied you are in that role.  People tell us the best part of changing jobs is finding new challenges and different perspectives to consider.  Positions get stale and so can our careers if we let them.  If you suspect you might need a fresh perspective, let us talk. Our goal is to help everyone find the best opportunity for them.

Ask the Recruiter – “What should I avoid during an interview?”

We could write a book on the mistakes both employers and applicants make, but today let us focus on the most common mistakes we see every day.
1.  Being a “no show” – Not showing up for a phone call or in-person interview sends the wrong message. Make sure you check and double check the date and time.
2.  Bad mouthing people – This industry is small and employers often know each other well. Badmouthing a previous employer or colleagues causes the interviewer to think, “What will they say about me?”
3.  Being unprepared – The most common suggestions we provide are to review the website, including the mission, vision and core values. From there, prepare questions for each interviewer.  Lack of preparation is obvious to everyone involved.
4.  Long winded – Most people are not aware how long winded they are. People ramble the most when they are nervous.
5.  Poor writing skills – A missing or poorly written thank you note has contributed to many people not being invited back. Having someone to review your thank you notes seems like such a simple step but few do it.

Interviews are hard enough without making these simple mistakes. Preparing ahead of time will help you avoid these common pitfalls and give you an additional advantage over your competition.

I can be reached at 614-885-8490 or by e-mail at aw@ess123.com.

 

Executive Staffing Solutions
445 Hutchinson Ave, Suite 650
Columbus, OH 43235