Top 7 Ways People Don't "Ace" The Interview

Not everyone who interviews will be offered a position. Understanding the reasons for rejection will help improve your interviewing skills and prepare you for the next interview.

According to Katherine Burik, founder and owner of the Interview Doctor, employers value candidates with drive and commitment. Those who show they are determined and do not make mistakes in an interview often land jobs over more qualified applicants. These candidates impressed the employer with enthusiasm and flawless interviewing style.

To be successful, you must come across as upbeat, positive, energetic and friendly. Here are the top seven reasons candidates may be rejected by a potential employer.

1. Poor attitude or appearance.

The first three to five minutes of the interview establishes the first impression. Many candidates come across as arrogant. While employers can afford to be self-centered, candidates cannot. Be friendly, open and interested. Make sure you are neatly and professionally dressed. In particular, wear nice, shined shoes and do not wear cologne.

2. Lack of career direction.

Job hunters who are not clear about their career goals often cannot spot or commit to appropriate opportunities. Know what you want. No one will decide your career direction for you. Not knowing what you want wastes everyone’s time.

3. Lack of research.

It is obvious when candidates have not learned about the job, company or industry prior to the interview. Research the company, visit their website and then talk with friends, peers and other professionals about the opportunity before the interview. The more you know, the more you separate yourself from other candidates.

4. Not readily knowing the answers to interviewers’ questions.

Each interview is not a discrete event. If you have been interviewing you know that interviewers ask similar questions. Anticipate and rehearse answers to the most common interview questions. These questions are readily available (http://interviewdoc.com/documents/MoreInterviewingQuestions.pdf). Think about your answers ahead of time and write down your responses. Practicing with a spouse or friend before the interview will help to frame intelligent responses, particularly to those tough questions about issues raised by your background, such as a recent termination or an employment gap.

5. Not having questions to ask.

Asking questions shows that the interviewee is interested in the company and available job. Prepare a list of intelligent questions in advance. Incorporate what you learned from your research into your questions.

6. Not telling your own story.

Employers hire people, not paper. Although a resume can list qualifications, it is the interview dialogue that will portray you as a committed, responsive team player. Conditioned not to brag, candidates are sometimes reluctant to describe their accomplishments. Explaining how you reached difficult or impressive goals helps employers understand your capabilities.

7. Not relating your skills to the employer’s needs.

A list of sterling accomplishments means little if you cannot relate them to a potential employer’s requirements. Just saying, “… and I am certain I could do it for you,” can turn a past achievement into a future benefit.

To learn more tips on how to make the most out of an interview, contact The Interview Doctor at 330.453.1199 or visit http://www.interviewdoc.com.

The Interview Doctor is a team of 12 certified human resource professionals and coaches who are available to help both young and experienced professionals master the art of the interview. Using their 25+ years of experience gathered from having conducted hundreds of interviews for major companies and organizations, the Interview Doctors will work with job hunters to define their “Essential You”™, educate them on the interview process, work to hone their interviewing skills, as well as go through a practice interview to polish responses. After the interview, the Interview Doctors will also work with applicants to establish what went right or wrong, and to refine areas before the next interview.