7 Common Mistakes New Graduates Make in Job Interviews
Publié le 5 July 2023
Stand out to a hiring manager for all the right reasons by knowing how to avoid 7 common mistakes new graduates make in job interviews.
Job interviews aren’t everyone’s favorite thing, but some people love them. They thrive in a concentrated environment, bringing their A-game to the short talk with hiring managers and showing off the highlights of their professional life with no apparent difficulty. If you’re not blessed with such skills, it’s tempting to dismiss the whole thing as beyond you, and fail to give your next job interview the preparation it deserves. If you’ve recently graduated from school, there is also a chance you have limited experience with the hiring process in general and interviews in particular.
However, you’ll be glad to know that you can learn to shine during job interviews. There are definite techniques you can use to project confidence, impress hiring managers and get the job you want. The first thing you need to do is to learn what not to do.
There are 7 common mistakes new graduates make in job interviews that you need to avoid, so you can walk out knowing you made a great first impression. Before we see what they are, let’s ask the big question.
Why do New Graduates Struggle During Job Interviews?
One word: Experience. The right kind of experience, to be specific.
New graduates may have had student jobs, such as part-time roles and summer jobs that fit around an academic schedule. These may have involved quick recruitment chats with coffee shop bosses looking to get someone in to cover a shift that evening. In those situations, your availability will chime with an organization’s needs and the job will probably be yours.
Performing at a more formal and corporate interview is a different matter, especially if it’s in your dream job sector. First of all, there’s a whole lot of competition you have to rise above. In the UK, for instance, the BBC reports that an average of 91 applications go after each vacancy. If an employer has an extensive field like this to select from, it won’t take too many mistakes on your application before you’ve ruled yourself out of the running.
Secondly, the overall process can be quite lengthy. As well as the initial interview (which averages out at around 45-50 minutes) there may be second interviews, phone calls, practical sessions, skills assessments and more – it can all get quite wearing. But if you want the job you have to be prepared for all of these, whether they take place in person or online.
Thirdly, you need confidence to be able to advocate for yourself and the skills, knowledge and experience you will bring to the job. This is true of most job interviews, from entry level upward. A great way of acquiring confidence is to learn how to avoid the goofs that can seriously dampen self-assurance. Let’s turn now to how to do this.
1. Not Doing Your Research
You have to do some preparation before the big day. If you look like you’re not that familiar with the company, then you’ll come across as somebody who’s pretty casual about whether they get the job or not. You’ll also look like somebody who comes to tasks ill-prepared despite having time to get ready. This is why failing to prepare is one of the most common mistakes new graduates make in job interviews.
How many recruiting managers are going to want somebody like that on their team? Not many. And the truth is, you don’t have to prepare a thesis in order to impress your prospective employer. Learn a few basic facts about the business: how big? How old? Where’s it headed? Anything interesting about its website – from interesting articles and pleasant layout, to tech observations and the UX or .io domain, for instance?
If you really want to set yourself apart, try researching the individuals conducting the interview. This of course depends on you knowing some names, which you can then search on LinkedIn and learn more about their professional history. You can bet they’ll have done the same with your social media accounts and online presence.
Another useful aspect to research is salary expectations. Utilize tools like a salary calculator to get an idea of the average salary range for similar positions in the industry. Having this knowledge can help you when discussing compensation during the interview process, and may even help you negotiate for an improved salary.
2. Not Dressing the Part
It’s a little tricky nowadays to get the interview dress code right.There was a time when you couldn’t go wrong with smart formal dress, regardless of the job. Your commitment and seriousness about the process was reflected in the sober gray flannel suit you donned.
However, when many companies that recruit new graduates actively flout such convention as part of their brand image, it’s tempting to go all out with the casual vibe in order to blend in. You don’t want to be rejected for being too stiff.
So, whatever the work, from the major financial firms and government agencies to new start-ups and involvement in virtual business phone service from Vonage, research this aspect of the company profile. Then dress in a manner that broadly reflects it, but, crucially, just a little smarter. This way, your appearance will have style that’s appropriate to the corporate culture, as well as not offending the old school brigade.
If you’re still confused, an excellent idea is to just call the HR department and ask. Nothing wrong with seeking the information you lack. If you were invited to a posh soiree, you’d need to know just how refined your outfit needs to be. This is why this information is usually on the invitation. Not so much with job interviews. So, just reach out and ask.
If anything, they may respect you for having the wherewithal to find out, rather than just arrogantly assuming that the way you want to look will fit the bill. Even if you are having a virtual job interview, you should still avoid looking like you just rolled out of bed in time to hit connect.
3. Being Late
Obvious. Don’t be late. It’s rude and can make the panel think: slack. Not in a good way, as in Slack Google Sheets integration. Just disorganized. Research your route and have a backup plan in case of unexpected traffic. Leave earlier than you need to.
Here’s the thing though. Don’t turn up too early. No more than 10-15 minutes early is what you want to be aiming for. If you’re looking like arriving earlier than this, go to a cafe for some last minute prep. You can get that coffee fix so that you don’t fall into the next trap.
4. Saying Yes to Coffee
No, really – this can be an interview faux pas. As any experienced interviewer will tell you, the candidate who refuses coffee and has water instead tends to perform better. This is down to two factors.
Firstly, shaky hands and coffee cups and saucers don’t mix. Trying not to spill any drops on your pristine white shirt can play havoc with your confidence.
Secondly, there’s an instant unfortunate association created if somebody says yes to coffee. High maintenance. You may think that’s not very fair. But if you don’t have a PA to go and make the coffee, you can be heartily sick of making it for candidates by the end of the day.
5. Negative Body Language
We all know that body language is important. But perhaps not exactly how important. Psychologist Dr Albert Mehrabian puts it like this:
Image sourced from toolshero.com
So, we need to pay attention to what our bodies are doing. Failure to appear engaged and alert can be one of the most common mistakes new graduates make in job interviews.
Sit up straight. Look people in the eye when they’re talking to you. Don’t look at the ground when you’re talking. On the other hand, don’t stare at one person when you’re talking – it might unnerve them. Take in the whole panel with your contribution to the exchange. Leave nobody out.
This can be a little trickier to pull off online, as line of sight can often be a little off, depending on your laptop. In fact, a lack of a clear eye line is a main contributor to “Zoom Fatigue” — the feeling of extreme tiredness after virtual meetings. When in doubt, just keep your eyes on your laptop and you’ll be OK.
Final tips. Don’t wave your arms around too much. And don’t forget to smile. Not all the time – that won’t look natural. But certainly on greeting and leaving and at all appropriate points between.
6. Not Listening
Be sure to take the time to consider every question, and not jump to give any answer as quickly as possible. You may have researched business call forwarding and are desperate to answer questions about it. However, listen carefully and think for a second before you respond. Make sure you’re addressing exactly what the questioner is talking about. It’s not as easy as it sounds. It’s worth practicing this with friends and colleagues who can give you honest feedback that will help you prepare for your job interview..
7. No End-of-Interview Questions
If you want to look like you don’t care whether you get the job or not, an excellent idea is to refrain from asking questions at the end. It’ll mark you out as a person with the bare minimum of interest in working there.
Always prepare questions to ask during your job interview. If you’re worried about forgetting them, feel free to print them out and bring them with you. It doesn’t look unprofessional. It looks prepared. If the interview’s remote, see if you can incorporate some visual aids. Using tools like a Chrome extension to draw on screen can really help to create impact.
Always be sure that your questions haven’t already been answered in the course of the interview. If they all have, see if you can think of any others. If not, say what questions you had, and thank the panel for already giving you the information you sought.
Getting The Job
Speaking to recruiters is not easy, but knowing 7 common mistakes new graduates make in job interviews and how to avoid them is a great place to start.
If we had to emphasize one point to leave you with, it would be this: Be prepared for failure.
That’s not to be defeatist. But you have to face the fact that you won’t get every job you go for. This is fine. Rejection is normal and it’s how we learn. Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback – 70% of candidates want it. The important factor is to stay resilient and buoyant and you’ll soon find success.
The more interviews you go to, the greater your chance of getting that job. So keep your chin up. And don’t slouch.
