Avoiding the many ‘sins’ of interviewing

Regardless of whether they are referred to as sins, mistakes, or errors, the art of interviewing can be tricky, and even the most experienced interviewer or interviewee is capable of making serious missteps during the interview process. MSNBC contributor Eve Tahmincioglu recently compiled one such list of missteps, which she dubbed the “seven sins of interviewing.” Counting them down, 7-1, these sins include:

1. Self loathing. Do not undersell yourself or, even worse, damage or tarnish your image through self loathing. Or, as Tahmincioglu puts it, “I don’t care how long you’ve been out of work or how bummed out you are about it, when you get to the interview get your game face on and pretend you’re the greatest thing since sliced bread.”

1. Too much bling. Merely a matter of etiquette and dress, it is important that your attire in no way gives the wrong impression. Tahmincioglu quotes numerous recruiters who indicate that they passed on prospective employees because their attire or accessories conveyed an air of opulence.

1. Oprah-itis. Tahmincioglu explains “Oprah-itis” as the urge to bring up and discuss personal trials during the course of an interview. Resist this urge, however. Tahmincioglu unequivocally explains there is no room for such discussions within the context of a job interview: “I don’t care what’s going on in your life, a job interview is no place to discuss a medical condition, your family problems, your love life, or anything that isn’t job related.”

1. Jerkiness. Just as it is important not to convey feelings of indifference about the job for which you are interviewing, it is important not to come across to your interviewer as jerky or rude. Always be polite and courteous.

1. Greed. Even if you have been out of work for some time, it is important not to bring up salary prematurely, by doing so, as one commentator puts it, it is possible you might be interpreted as “desperate” or “presumptuous.” As Tahmincioglu describes, “Even if you’ve been unemployed for months and are desperate to know how much a potential job will finally be paying you, resist the urge to talk money.”

1. Indifference. Don’t simply sit across from your interviewer or greet them emotionless—demonstrate your excitement about the position for which you are interviewing. Tahmincioglu surmises, “There is nothing worse than a job applicant who doesn’t seem excited with the prospect of working at a company, according to many hiring managers and owners of firms.”

1. Winging it. Tahmincioglu recommends that job seekers show up prepared. Do research, read about the company and its corporate culture, and most important, review the job description and become familiar with the needs of the employer.

Keep in mind, however, that the above list is by no means comprehensive: there exist many more blunders of interviewing than what is listed above. Nevertheless, the above list should prove useful in avoiding the perils of interviewing, to such a degree that one might consider what is listed above core maxims of the art of interviewing.

For additional information and posts about interviewing, see Interviewing in the digital age, Things you might not want to say or do at an interview, Navigating the interview process, and The dos and don’ts of interviewing.