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Nearly everyone has had an interview that didn't go well, but by taking the learning lessons and bouncing back stronger, you can avoid repeating the same mistakes time and time again.
If you want to make sure you never have to endure a nightmare interview, here are ten top tips to avoid the mistakes most people make - and maybe give yourself the edge in landing your next dream job.
There may not be a dress code for the job, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't dress smart for the interview. A formal outfit - and in most cases, a business suit or equivalent - helps to make the right impression and show that you are taking your application seriously.
A job interview is your time to sell your skills and experience, but it's essential to stay within the realms of reality. Over-exaggerating your capabilities will inevitably lead to problems when you start work and don't know what you're doing - and you could even find you've committed fraud in the process.
It's common for interviewers to ask why you want to leave your existing job, but keep your answer professional. Either focus on the positives (e.g. you want a new challenge or a lateral move into a new role) or deploy a tactical euphemism (e.g. you want more 'job satisfaction') that says it all while staying interview-appropriate.
You don't need to be a body language expert to appreciate the value of eye contact in an interview. Try to adopt confident (but not confrontational) posture - don't fold your arms and don't fidget. Neutral, open body language helps to build rapport and put the interviewer at ease, so they don't have any nagging doubts about your personality or character. If in doubt, mirror the interviewer's own body language, which can help to put you both in sync.
Communication is a huge area in interview technique, but it can be summarised by speaking clearly and concisely. Take your time (and a couple of deep breaths) and don't let your nerves dictate the pace of your responses. Your answers should be considered - and ideally prepared in advance, for common questions - so you're sure of what you're saying, and don't stray off-topic.
A bit of rapport can easily turn into overly personal chitchat, and suddenly a positive interview gets derailed. Don't treat the interviewer like a friend, and definitely don't stray into flirtatious behaviour. Keep it civil but respectful, so that the discussion stays all about you and why you would be such a good recruit.
In general, the interview is not the time to negotiate your salary and benefits. If those are open to counter-offers, there will be a time for that later. Get your job offer first, and then go back to the negotiating table to discuss the remuneration package. An exception is if you already have a holiday booked, in which case you might want to mention this in the interview as a courtesy.
This should go without saying, but again if an interview drifts towards an overly friendly tone, you may find yourself using bad language. Profanity might be common in many workplaces, but it's best to avoid it in an interview setting, where you want to make your best impression - even if the interviewer drops an occasional swear word into the conversation.
Arrive when you're expected and stay until you're done. It's really that simple if you want to make a good impression. It's good to be a few minutes early, but bad to be a few hours early - don't expect the interviewer to accommodate you well beyond the scheduled start time. If possible, have no commitments after the interview either, in case it runs over, and definitely don't get up and walk out before the end.
When the interviewer asks "any questions?" at the end, they're really testing your level of interest in the role, so have at least one question prepared to ask - and ideally several, in case your first question gets covered in the interview. If all else fails, ask for more details about something you've already discussed in passing.
For more interview techniques, read our job search advice, and register for MyPage to track all your active applications on our convenient dashboard. To benefit from Michael Page's expertise in your next job hunt, get in touch with our recruitment consultants today.
