There are many mistakes that people make at an interview, and many of them happen more often than you think. If you take some time to prepare for and think about your interview, then you won’t have to worry about any mistakes that you have made afterwards. Here is a list of 7 common mistakes that we have seen at interviews for you to avoid at yours.

Not dressing appropriately

You should research the culture of the company to gauge how you should dress, whether it is business casual or business professional etc…, and dress appropriately. Regardless of the position that you are interviewing for, it is important to look professional and polished. If you want to stand out from the crowd at an interview, you want to make sure that it is for the right reasons.

Arriving late

We all know how important first impressions are and this is never more true than at an interview. If you arrive late for an interview it will suggest poor time management skills as well as a lack of respect for your interviewer. Make sure that you plan your journey to the interview and allow time to arrive early. If there are unforeseen circumstances that mean you are running late, make sure that you contact your interviewer to let them know.

Lack of research on the company

Many interviewees don’t do enough research into the company that they are applying to. Don’t be stumped by a simple question like “What do you know about this company?”. Have some basic knowledge about the company, start with their website “About Us” section, do a simple Google search for recent news about them such as any new acquisitions, and check out their social media pages.

Don’t ramble

There is nothing worse than an interviewee who doesn’t know when to stop talking. Make sure that you listen to the question that you have been asked and understood what the interviewer is asking. Structure your answer well and give a full answer, including examples, but make sure that your answer is concise. Try not to get side-tracked from the answer that you are trying to give. Preparation is key to this, think about the questions that are likely to come up and have some examples for these already prepared so that you don’t have to think on your feet during the interview.

Reciting prepared answers

As mentioned above, it is useful to have some answers prepared before the interview for questions that are likely to come up, but it is important to make sure that you don’t just recite these as your answers will become robotic. Instead of having scripted answers, think more about a few talking points and examples and focus on the overall concept of what you are trying to say.

Don’t criticize past employers or colleagues

It’s a small world and you never know whom your interviewer knows within your industry so avoid moaning about that boss that you think is an idiot or the colleague that you thought was incompetent. You want to show your interviewer that you can work well with other people and handle conflicts in a mature and sensible way.

Having no questions to ask

An interview is a two-way street, an opportunity for you to find out about the role, the company, and the culture, not just for the interviewer to see if you are a good fit for their role. When the inevitable “Do you have any questions for me?” is delivered, use this as an opportunity to make the interviewer sit up and take notice of you. If you have some innovative and interesting questions prepared to ask it shows that you have thought about the role and the company values and will also give you an opportunity to get some opinions from a current employee of the company that you want to join.

A successful interview is all about preparation and presentation. By avoiding the common mistakes mentioned above, you will be able to present yourself as a professional candidate who is the right fit for the role and the company. With these tips in mind, you'll be able to make a great first impression and set yourself up for success in your job search. Good luck!