Mistake #1: You Sound Like Everyone Else
The key to a successful interview is to stand out in the employers mind. This doesn't mean wear funky clothes. To stand out, you need to stand for something. Pick one or two things you want the employer to remember about you. Refer to those one to two points several times during the interview.
For example, you may choose to brand yourself as someone who is deadline driven. When asked about working in a team environment, answer the interview question but feel free to weave in your main point. "Because I am so deadline driven myself, I’ve really learned how to work with others’ strengths and weaknesses in order to reach our goals on time.”
Mistake #2: Vague Responses
Vague responses will almost guarantee you a rejection letter. Not only are vague responses easily forgotten, they carry little credibility. By providing detail to each interview question, your answers become more real, tangible and most importantly... memorable.
Mistake #3: Little to No Preparation
Mistakes #1 and #2 are usually caused by lack of preparation. Give yourself plenty of time preparing answers to the interview questions related to the position you are applying for. Make sure you have a firm grasp of the products or services sold, the customers the company serves, and the competition. There really is no substitute for preparation.
Mistake #4: No Pause
When under pressure, some of us freeze up. Others talk more quickly. Regardless of how you act under pressure, take advantage of the pause. Here are 2 uses for the pause:
Pause before providing a response to each interview question asked. Use the time to formulate your answer. You can also use a stalling phrase like “That is a great question” to buy yourself some time.
Pause before delivering an important point. Anytime you pause, you will immediately gain the attention of your interviewer.
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