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Interviewing can be a nerve-wracking process, and the stress can be exacerbated by the fact you’re trying very hard not to make a mistake that costs you a job offer. Here are some of the “small mistakes” that can easily add up to another candidate getting the offer – and how to focus your energy on them so your skills and passion shine through.

Mistake #1: Playing Hard to Get
Fix: Get Excited

You want to avoid coming across as desperate, so the best thing to do is to play it cool, right? Big mistake.

Employers have more candidates than they can possibly employ, so any candidate who doesn’t seem interested in the job comes across as wasting the interviewer’s time. Instead, demonstrate your interest by asking questions, talking about how their work dovetails with yours, and saying: “I’m really excited about this opportunity.”

Mistake #2: Being Unprepared
Fix: Get to Know the Employer and the Job

You’re busy, you’re good at your job, and you’ve done interviews before. You can just walk in and it’ll go okay, won’t it? Probably not.

Lack of preparation is what causes most interviewees to lose their train of thought, “blank out” or give generalized answers that don’t display the skills and knowledge you’ve worked so hard to build. Instead, match your accomplishments with specific parts of the job description. Practice answers to standard questions like “Tell us about yourself” and “Why do you want to work here?” And research the employer and company: The more you know about them, the easier it is to explain why they need you.

Mistake #3: Being Too Honest
Fix: Add Tact to Your Preparation Toolkit

You want a job and an employer that gets you, especially after bad experiences at your previous or current job. So, you’re going to tell it like it is, aren’t you? But if you do, you risk losing the job.

There’s a right way and a wrong way to talk about bosses who don’t support you, co-workers who undermine you or a company whose values and approach seem to be going in the wrong direction. Focus on framing these negative moments as learning experiences that have led you to seek employers like the one you’re interviewing with, who address those issues. Your recruiter can help you get an “inside view” of an employer and reframe your experiences so they support your professional reputation, instead of detracting from it.

At SMR Group Ltd, our recruiters specialize in connecting sales and marketing professionals with some of the best job openings in the medical device, biotech and pharmaceutical industries. Contact us today to learn more.


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