Interviews & Others

Poor time management decreases your ability to be punctual due to unpredictable delays. Make sure you plan enough time for your journey. Tardiness is very poor behaviour.

If illness, delayed train connections or car problems keep you from being on time, all you need to do to protect yourself is apologise for your tardiness. Immediately inform your contact person..

Despite your excitement, an impolite greeting without eye contact is unforgivable. This is one of the most common interview mistakes complained about by supervisors. Make sure you have good manners.

Insufficient information about the potential future employer is one of the biggest mistakes in job interviews. Gather information prior to the interview. It may be helpful to talk to a recruitment consultant who can help you thoroughly prepare for your information and may even be able to provide you with insider information.

Those without answers for gaps and missing information in their documents embarrass themselves when asked about them. Under certain conditions, one of the biggest interview mistakes could unbalance you and put other applicants ahead of you.

Nothing is more negative than looking exhausted and yawning during an interview. Avoid turning drinks into a stumbling block and postpone your party.

If you don't have a job description, list the key responsibilities of the position, and then draw up a list of questions that relate to those responsibilities," says John Dooney, manager of strategic resource for the Society for Human Resources Management, a nonprofit association for human resources professionals.

as in "tell me about a time when you..." Ask for specific examples of past performance and behaviour, says Dooney. Previous successes are a good indicator of future performance.

This may seem obvious, but by preparing your interview questions and reviewing the resume, you are showing the candidate you have taken the time to ensure a productive interview.

Dooney suggests hiring managers should talk only about 30 percent of the time. Allow candidates time to describe their skills and qualifications during the interview.

Just as you are looking for eye contact and appropriate dress, the candidate is looking for those unspoken signals from you. Be sure your tone of voice is appropriate and professional. Clearly articulate the job's duties and the company's mission.

to let candidates know whether they got the job. This is one more way of extending a professional courtesy and gives the interview process closure.