4 Worst Job Interview Mistakes to Avoid

You can get away with a few mistakes on your CV or cover letter that the recruiter wouldn’t notice but making a blunder in a job interview will cost you the job and forever  haunt you.

Mary Wandera, an Admin Assistant, landed a job this week with but she remembers a silly mistake that made her lose an opportunity in December.

“For the life of me I didn’t know what the company was all about. Not what they did or even who some of their clients were. It was my first interview and I didn’t think any of those things mattered.”

Speaking to Carol Mutuma, a HR practitioner with AA Lodges, she highlights 4 of the biggest mistakes job seekers should steer away from in 2015.

4 Mistakes to Avoid in a Job Interview

1. Not Carrying Relevant Documents.

Ms Mutuma shares that come what may, you should always have with you some vital documents.

“The most important is a fully updated CV, followed by copies of your certificates, any testimonials relevant to the job at hand and a recommendation letter.”

She adds that getting caught without these crucial items can throw off your confidence and make interviewers question your preparedness.

2. Being Desperate

The HR practitioner explains that there are certain phrases and language that are definitely off limits if you don’t want to look desperate

“I’ve seen people who say I will do anything to land a job. This in essence shows the employer that you no longer have credible skills or value yourself enough.”

She advises that, “You have to understand what your value is. At the end of the day the wants to hear, not sheer desperation but a clear sense of what your value is.”

3. Quoting Too High or Too Low is an Interview Mistake you Must Avoid

Speaking of value, how much are your skills worth? 15K, 50K, 1M?

Ms Mutuma feels that most job seekers attend interviews without the right figures at their finger tips.

“That’s why you find that most people end up being underpaid. For a job that’s worth say maybe Ksh50,000, they get paid half of that either because they do not value their skills much or they do not know the market rate for their job position.”

But then again there are those who go overboard with the quotation. “Some interviewees also quote a very high figure thinking that if they do so it shows that they value themselves and perhaps may impress the interviewer.”

4. Failing To Ask questions.

Ms Mutuma remarks that whichever industry you may fall under “What questions do you have for us,” is a must for most interviews.

“For most entry level job seekers, it’s the usual aaaaahs….and the head scratching that comes with it. Most job seekers think they are playing it safe for not having questions for the HR. On the contrary, that is not the case.”

For guidelines, she concludes that your questions to the interviewer should focus on the company, culture, success factors or chances to contribute.