Job Interview Mistakes - Part 2
If you missed Part 1 of this series, click here: Job Interview Mistakes - Part 1.
Mistake #5: Speaking poorly about a past employer or co-worker.
Mistake #6: Failing to be well-groomed for the interview.
Mistake #7: Having an attitude or being unprofessional in any way (even if it's not intentional).
Mistake #8: Being unprepared for the interview and having a low level of knowledge about their company and their specific position.
Job Interview Mistakes - Part 2 - Introduction.
Mistakes - Part 3: The Interview
Mistake #10: Not being sure of what the interviewer expects in terms of salary.
If you are invited to a second interview, it means the employer sees potential in you and wants to learn more about you. The purpose of a second interview is to verify information that has been provided during the initial interview. While there are no hard and fast rules regarding second interviews; they are often conducted by someone who did not participate in the first interview.
There are several reasons an employer might request a second interview:
For most people, a second job interview is just another chance to make a good impression on your future employer. The one thing you don't want to do at this stage is alienate the employer.
Your goal on the second interview is to:
Some general tips for a second interview include:
Mistake #12:
Mistake #13: Overlooking small details that can result in a job offer.
Mistakes - Part 4: The Job Offer and Negotiations
For most people, getting a job offer is the hard part of the job search process. If you have been in touch with your contacts at work, you should have had plenty of warning before an offer was likely to arrive. This means you should be prepared, and you should be willing to negotiate.
For the most part, employers will not even begin to offer a job until they have checked out your references and verified your background information. So be patient, and don't lose hope. A job offer can take several weeks to arrive after an interview.
There is no one way to negotiate salary and benefits. The first step is to know what the going rate is for someone with your skills and experience. If you have no idea, ask around at local companies or look online at sites that specialize in salaries like glassdoor.com or payscale.com .
If you learn that the employer is willing to pay at or above the going rate, then you can ask for a little more. If you are offered something below the going rate, then you can negotiate by asking for benefits like extra time off, flexible work schedules, and so forth.
The bottom line is to know what the going rate is and to know what benefits are important to you. Then present those options to an employer who will most likely be more than glad to accommodate your requests!
Mistake #14:
When it comes time to start your new job, don't wait until your first day of work to begin learning about things that may be important in future advancement. Use your first days to begin building relationships with co-workers and supervisors, as well as getting a feel for the company's culture. Take time to review and understand the company handbook, and ask questions about things that may not be clear to you.
Mistake #15:
Mistake #16:
If you have ever been on an interview, you already know how nerve-wracking it can be to wait for the big moment: your offer letter or email. You may have heard horror stories from friends and family about how they got passed over for another candidate because they didn't wait for their employer to get back to them by a certain day, or because they accepted the offer from another company before receiving the one from the employer.
Let's start with some good news:
To ensure that you don't end up in any of these situations, it is important to know what type of offer letters are out there and what they mean.
Finally, when it comes to negotiating salary, benefits, vacation time and other aspects of your job offer, it is always a good idea to try to negotiate as much as possible. Your boss may be reluctant to give you what you are asking for, but there are a few things you can do to make your case.
Here is some advice from the experts:
Good luck on your job search!
Mistake #17: Not incorporating social media into the job search process.
Mistake #19: Not knowing the laws regarding interviews and applications.
Mistake #20: Not having an action plan to deal with an interview rejection.
Mistake #21: Failing to follow-up after an interview.
Mistake #22: Losing track of when you applied for a job.
Mistake #23: Not following-up after a rejection.
Mistake #24: Improperly timing your applications.
Before the job interview, don't forget to pick-up your free CV and cover letter template!
After you have submitted your application, don't forget to check out our blog for tips on how to best market yourself during the job search process!
Mistake #25: Not following up with everyone who interviews you.
If the employer invites you to an interview, it means you made a good impression. There is a chance they will want to hire you. Know what to do in that situation and how long it takes for an employer to decide if they plan on hiring you.
Check out our blog for more tips on interviewing!
Mistake #26: Not following-up with your references.
Mistake #27: Failing to get all the supporting documents together in advance of your first day of work.
Mistake #28: Not knowing which type of resume format is most likely to be accepted by employers (e.g., chronological vs. functional vs. combination).
Mistake #29: Not using the right resume format in your cover letter.
Mistake #30: Not polishing your interview skills.
Mistake #31: Not knowing what type of interview questions to expect.
Mistake #32: Not preparing for behavioral interviewing questions.
Conclusion:
If you are a teacher, military service member, or law enforcement officer, you'll likely want to read this section because of the importance of a strong background investigation.
In many cases, a background investigation includes two or more interviews conducted by federal and county employees who are trying to determine if you are eligible for access to classified materials or if you should be allowed to work as an employee. These types of interviews are known as "security clearance" investigations and can also include federal written tests (e.g., polygraphs).
During the security clearance investigation process, the subject is not allowed access to classified materials. So it's important that investigators have enough information before they interview your references.