We’re all about finding out what works here at Interview Mastermind, but an important part of that is knowing what does not work when it comes to honing in on your interviewing skills.

Here are 4 more ways most applicants drop the ball with their interviewing skills and end up sitting at home, taking double shots of whiskey and committing to a life of less.

5. Not Being an Interrogator

It’s easy to walk in with the mindset that you are there to be interviewed and that it’s all about conveying yourself to them.  But an employer wants to know you are interested in the position and organization so you need your interviewing skills to reflect that.  Curiosity is king.  Not only does it suggest a burning desire to learn new things and expand but reveals that you are legitimately interested in being a part of their team.

Come prepared with questions—good ones.  Tailor them specifically to their organization.  The worst thing you can do when the employer asks if you have questions is shrug and say, “nope.  Not really.”  One of the best interviewing skills you can master is knowing the right questions to ask.   And don’t ask how many hot guys work their, no matter how laid back the interview is.  Questions should relate to a productive working mindset.

6. The Bullshitter

Making up your qualifications and portraying yourself as something you are not is a very bad idea.  What kind of interviewing skills are those?  If the employer questions you on the spot about what you claim to know, you are definitely going to wind up in an awkward situation, or even, worse, if they hire you for you software design skills they are going to have a lot of questions when they find out the only thing you know about computers is how to post naked pictures on Myspace.

Lying about qualifications is usually a product of low-self esteem related to our past and our work experience  But if you never push the limits of your “experience” and learn new things, you are never going to gain those new skills, so its time to talk someone into taking a chance on you by making sure you have excellent interviewing skills.  Consider getting an interview coach.  An expert can guide you in the right direct and teach you how to properly package your life experiences in a way that communicates value and use that to improve your interviewing skills.

7. The Ungrateful Bastard

Without exception, every time after you finish an interview, you should show the company your appreciation for investing the time to evaluate your worth.  So many applicants miss this imperative part of interviewing skills, but it solidifies your personality and dedication in their mind.  It re-establishes yourself as a presence.

Write a letter—consider making it handwritten (not in crayon, please), and summarize the selling points you presented in the interview to remind them of your strengths.  Make it genuine.  Don’t say things you don’ mean or just tell them what they want to hear.  If you cannot get more excited about the job than that there is no sense in working there anyhow.

8. Unable to Negotiate

Some applicants hit a homer when pitching themselves with their interviewing skills, but when it comes time to decide the salary they are out with just one strike.  It’s important to know your worth and what can be expected when walking into an interview.

Back to that research—you’ve got the interviewing skills; now use them.  What is the starting salary for this position?  What are the high-end starting salaries?  What does that usually require from you as far as history and expectations?  How does that differ from this specific position?  Never settle for the lowest salary and don’t ask for the highest unless you are extremely high-demand and you have a lot power players backing you up.

Negotiation skills are  important to your interviewing skills  for many reasons.  For one, you want the best pay possible.  Hey, everyone’s a little money hungry, and we’re not against working, we just want to be rewarded for it…how else do you expect to support your drinking skills.

Negotiation also reveals those research capabilities while displaying your sense of self worth.  But last of all, negotiation reveals your selling skills, and let’s face it, no matter what your position, selling is involved in some form or another.  Practice the art of persuasion for your interviewing skills and put it to use.

Psychological tactics provide the edge you need to be the super employee—the Navy Seal of the workforce. 

Sign up for my in depth newsletter to get more information on how to be the most impressive applicant who ever walked through their doors.  This isn’t magic, folks, but its about as close as it gets.  Subliminal messages are a powerful force in our lives and useful interviewing skills.

Tags: interviewing skills

Tags: interviewing skills
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