Job seekers must avoid common interview mistakes
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2013 08:17 AM

Nobody is perfect, from job seekers to the men and women who interview them. However, those who are looking to become employed need to understand that they are under a microscope the minute they sit down to talk about an opening with one or more interviewers.

As a result, these individuals are going to want to do everything in their power to make sure they do not slip up and make a mistake far too many job seekers are guilty of making. Here are a few of the big ones candidates need to avoid:

Not preparing
In the current economy, those who are employed realize how lucky they are. In addition, employers have a responsibility to hire individuals who are most deserving of the job they are interviewing for. As a result, not many hiring managers are likely to be impressed by people who did not prepare and do not appear to be taking the process very seriously.

CareerBuilder suggests job seekers research the company they are interviewing for, including its history and goals. This preparation also shows an interviewer that candidates are serious about joining the organization in question.

Not appearing curious enough
The more research job seekers conduct, the greater number of questions they are sure to have during an interview. For this reason, those who show up for an interview without a single question run the risk of appearing uninterested in a position, as well as the company that is offering it.

If candidates are unsure as to what they should ask, they may want to follow Forbes' advice and ask an interviewer to describe the ideal candidate for the position, or how they can follow up the conversation.

Not knowing how to be punctual
No one likes to wait, which is why job seekers should never arrive later than the time their interview was supposed to begin, unless there is a very good reason for their tardiness.

Mashable advises job candidates to figure out exactly where they are going and, if possible, make a practice run to their destination so they do not get lost on the day of their interview.

Sometimes, individuals may find themselves making more mistakes when they do not feel comfortable. Something that may be able to help them avoid ending up outside of their comfort zone is taking a career test. Using the results of this assessment, they have a chance to know what type of position would be a good fit for them, which may help them feel more at ease.