Job Seekers: Do you Make these Critical Mistakes?

At job interviews, it can be tempting to put down a past employer or boss. This can be a serious mistake.

Perhaps you have had a career with many ups and downs. Maybe you have a boss who is a nightmare to work for, or a job that bores you to tears. You may have financial problems, personal issues and much more.

Regardless of all that, remember that no one likes a whiner. During job interviews, if you come across as a person who is bitter, habitually angry or negative in general, you have likely killed your chances of getting an offer.

As far as possible, avoid discussing negative experiences or pointing out negatives about people, organizations or industries. You may think you are being realistic and truthful, but you will create an image of negativity in the minds of the people interviewing you.

They may start to perceive you as a habitually negative person who has a difficult time getting along with people. They may think of you as a person beset by failure wherever you turn.

That’s definitely not the sort of image you want to project.

It is true that you may have to mention facts like failure in business or personality clashes with a former boss. However, make an effort to balance the negatives with positives. Let them know how you dealt with the situation and what you learned from it.

That way, you can project yourself as someone who is open to new experiences, does not fear failure and is willing to learn from all situations.

Another issue many job seekers have to grapple with is lack of self-confidence.

Being interviewed for a job can be an ego-dampener. You are evaluated by several others who pass judgment on you. There is a chance that you will be rejected and labeled “not good enough” for the job.

Apart from that, you are often unsure about how to handle tough interview questions and how you should position yourself.

All of which is more than enough to rattle even those with high levels of confidence. Your emotional state may go up and down sharply during the run up to an interview as well as during the event.

The problem is that lack of confidence tends to show through clearly. Your tone of voice, handshake and overall body language reflect your mental state.

And you must have confidence in yourself if the interviewer is to have any confidence in you.

One of the best ways to build up your confidence level is to be well-prepared. Do good pre-interview research to uncover facts about the company and the job. Prepare statements of your accomplishments, skills and qualifications. Decide how you are going to present yourself at the interview.

Building up your confidence and avoiding negativity can go a long way towards ensuring your success at job interviews.