The first Don’ts to avoid come before the interview even begins. Before you show up the day of the interview, do your research on the company. Make sure you understand the role you are being interviewed for, as well as anything about the company you can find. Search news articles, the company website, and the LinkedIn profiles of those you will be interviewing with. Lack of preparation is a big Don’t.
Dressing inappropriately or being late to the interview are unacceptable and avoidable things and big Don’ts. If you are unsure of the appropriate dress code for your interview, always wear a suit. It is better to be overdressed rather than under dressed.
Don’t be late to your interview. If you have time, you may want to do a trial journey to the office so you are familiar enough with the area and the building to ensure there are no hiccups on the day itself. If this is not feasible, then search Google maps for timing and give yourself a thirty-minute window added on that, in case you get lost or there is traffic.
During the interview, there are a few Don’ts to be aware of as well. Don’t answer any phone calls or texts during the interview. I would even go so far as to say Don’t look at your phone from the time you get in the building until you leave. If it seems like you have more important or pressing things on your phone than what is going on in the interview, it sets a bad precedence for the rest of your time there.
Secondly, Don’t talk negatively about your previous or current employer. You may get the question, “Why are you deciding to leave your current employer?” Or, “Why did you decide to leave company X?” This is not the time to bring up how much of a jerk your previous boss was or that your current company pays terribly and makes you do too much grunt work. Spin any issues you might have had in the past into something more positive. An example would be, “I am leaving company X because I do not see a clear path of accession and growth like I see with your company.” Or, “I wanted to explore other sectors or industries and feel I can bring helpful knowledge from my previous employer here.”
At the end of your interview, two Don’ts to avoid are not asking any questions and not following up after you leave. Typically, after all of the interviewer’s questions have been asked, they will turn to you for any questions for them. This is not the time to be silent. If you are nervous about being able to come up with questions on the spot, come up with a few stock questions beforehand. Some examples are “What does a typical day look like for someone in this role?” or “What are the next steps in your interview process?”
Lastly, a day or two after the interview, you should follow up with your interviewer with a thank you note for taking the time to meet with you and you hope to hear from them soon about the position. Happy Job Hunting!
Ashley Herbert
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