Biggest Job Interview Killers To Avoid

Interviews are always going to make people nervous, no matter how much experience you have or how qualified you know you are for the job. In fact, the more you want the job and the more you know how well you would do if you had it, the more nerve-wracking that interview is going to be.

This is why preparation is so important. If you are entirely prepared for the interview you will be less nervous and more able to focus on the questions being asked. This means researching the company, making sure you have the evidence to prove you have the skills required, being comfortable but smartly dressed, and getting a good night’s sleep before the big day. 

Yet despite all this, you might still have some issues during the interview. These issues are what are known as ‘interview killers’ and they are problems that can put you in a bad light, often through no fault of your own, and can cause you to miss out on the opportunity in front of you. 

Here are some of the biggest interview killers and what you can do to prevent them:

Too Much Perfume 

The nose is a delicate part of the body, and strong odors can make it uncomfortable. Very strong odors can even cause headaches and a feeling of nausea. So, although you won’t want to smell bad at an interview (another interview killer which can be solved by using deodorant), you don’t want to smell of too much perfume either. 

There is a big difference between a subtle dab of perfume to make you feel confident and give off a fresh, sweet smell, and spraying far too much on so that it is almost choking the interviewer, and anyone else you come into contact with. 

Far from being able to concentrate on the answers to your questions, the interviewer will be focused on the strong scent instead. They might even finish the interview early because of it. So be sparing with your perfume. 

Allergies 

No one can help having allergies, but unfortunately they can be an issue during an interview if you don’t handle them properly. Many allergies present with itchy eyes, sore throat, headaches, and runny noses, and none of this is a good look when you are being interviewed. Add to this the fact that you won’t be feeling well, and you might not be on top form when answering questions, and that could mean you miss out on the job. 

If you know you have seasonal allergies, make sure you take itchy allergy eye relief or other useful medication before the interview. You’ll need to give yourself enough time for the medication to work, so you must time it right. 

Alternatively, if you have other allergies that you didn’t anticipate, it’s best to explain this to the interviewer before you start. They may want to reschedule, and even if they don’t, at least they’ll understand. 

Switch Your Phone Off 

We all use our phones a lot, some of us much more than others. No matter whether you barely look at your phone or you use it as much as you possibly can, you should switch it off completely for your interview. It’s amazing how many people will not only leave their phones on but will stop the interview to take a call or answer a text! This is extremely impolite, and it shows the interviewer that you aren’t as interested in the job as they would want you to be. 

Switching the phone off completely and putting it somewhere where it can’t be seen is good manners, and it means you can concentrate on answering the questions to the best of your ability.