FYI Candidates March 2007
Bump! Splat! NEXT!
Avoiding the 5-Top Interview Potholes
by Orrick Nepomuceno, CPC
Vice President of Development, Dick Wray Executive Search
Let's face it: interviewing can be stressful. Don't make it even more so by worrying about those basic interview skills that should be second nature by now. Today's HR pros and CEOs are all looking to avoid that dreaded Hitchhiker in the Corner Office — the perpetual job-hopper who's only there to waste their time until the next offer comes along. To avoid sticking your foot in your mouth — or your thumb in the air — during your next interview, avoid the following Top-5 Interview Potholes:
• Pothole #1 —Not researching the company: With the sophistication of most of today's company websites, brochures, literature and other hand-outs, there is literally no excuse for not researching the company you're interviewing for.
• Pothole #2 —Leaving the power suit and tie at home: Casual Friday doesn't exist for candidates. Even if you've been on six other interviews this week, don't get lazy and skip playing dress-up.
• Pothole #3 —Treating interviewers differently: Respect is a reward, not a gift. We must give it to get it, and no pothole is bigger than treating one interviewer differently than the next. I've seen great candidates miss out on even better jobs because they treated one executive differently than the next. Even if a janitor comes in during your interview, he or she deserves to be treated with respect.
• Pothole #4 —Not asking intelligent questions: It can get tempting to go into auto-pilot mode during interviews, particularly the more of them you do in a week/month. But it's much easier to hit this huge pothole when you're driving in cruise control! Stay alert and respond intelligently.
• Pothole #5 —Looking or talking like you don't care: Think of yourself as an actor and the interview room your stage. You must be “ON” from the moment you enter the building until you drive away in your car. Letting your guard down and acting underwhelmed is likely to leave your interviewer(s) feeling much the same way.
Orrick Nepomuceno, CPC is Vice President of Development at Dick Wray Executive Search. He is also author of Hitchhiker In The Corner Office: Avoid The Hiring Potholes So Your Employees Don’t Hit The Road! He can be reached at orrick@dickwray.com