You’ve made it to the interview stage – congratulations! While applying for jobs can be a daunting task, the interview stage can cause anxiety in the most confident of people. Being aware of some common interview blunders will help you better prepare and feel more confident during your meeting. Here are the top 10 things to avoid in an interview:

1. Have an interview coming up? Behaviours to avoid
You’ve made it to the interview stage – congratulations! While applying for jobs can be a daunting
task, the interview stage can cause anxiety in the most confident of people. Being aware of some
common interview blunders will help you better prepare and feel more confident during your
meeting. Here are the top 10 things to avoid in an interview:
1. Being domineering
In most conversations, someone will take the lead. When a conversation is natural, the
leader will often change. If you take the lead the entire interview, then your interviewer
might wonder if you’re naturally domineering, which might create questions of how you will
work with others. People are looking for team players.
2. Watching the clock
Isn’t it annoying when someone constantly watches the clock? In an interview, this is
especially distracting and may come across as rude. You need to show that you’re serious
about the role, and constantly checking the time might make your interviewer wonder if you
are.
3. Being unprepared
Do your homework before you show up at the interview. Not knowing anything about the
company or the role you’re interviewing for will not reflect on you positively. Make sure you
can answer these questions:
1. What does the company do?
2. Where is the company heading?
3. What are they trying to do?
If you know who your interviewer is, do some research on their background. Having an
understanding of the role you’re interviewing for is also important.
4. Not listening
Failing to listen in an interview is the surest way to make it sink. Make sure that you listen to
the questions; this will make your responses relevant and you’ll be engaged.
5. Not keeping conversation topical
If you have strong views on a specific topic, you might get easily distracted and wrapped up
in it. Make sure you’re aware of whether topics are truly relevant to this interview. If not,
stop talking about it. It’s a waste of time and counter-productive.
6. Showing up late
Imagine if you were a recruiter, and someone showed up late to an interview. Would you
believe that they really wanted the job? Being late will only reflect poorly on you, especially
if the role you’re interviewing for needs organisational skills and punctuality.
7. Criticizing former employers
Never speak badly of former employers; it will make you look bad, not them. Your

2. interviewer is concerned about your potential future at their company, and speaking poorly
of your old company will make them wonder if you would do the same to them. They
already know you want to leave your current job since you’re in an interview – they don’t
need the details.
8. Picking up your mobile
Always make sure your mobile is switched off before an interview. Having it ring is
disrespectful, and it will again indicate that you might not be serious about the role. Make
sure you remain respectful of your interviewer at all times. Answering a ringing phone
indicates the opposite.
9. Showcasing your funny side
You don’t know what type of person your interviewer is, so you never know what could
offend them. It is an uncomfortable situation to be in when someone who is trying to be
funny just isn’t. Don’t make any jokes that could be taken as sexist, cruel, racist, or
discriminatory.
10. Having a one-way talk
Don’t talk non-stop. There aren’t many people who want to be talked at, and the point of an
interview is to engage in a two-way conversation.
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