Interview: These are the 5 most common mistakes

Interview, oh dear. If you sell poorly here, even the best references and a flawless CV will not help you. Because at the end of the interview, the employer must not only be convinced of the paper form, but also of the personality of the candidate. “Many applicants sit there like rabbits in front of the snake, although they could save themselves with a courageous jump,” says career coach Jürgen Hesse. He names what he believes to be the five most common and serious mistakes that should be avoided at all costs in job interviews.

Mistake 1: Lack of awareness of what the interview is really about

When you go into an interview, you need to be clear about what to expect. The conversation is not a casual chat with spontaneous questions and answers, but is largely standardized. “Many people are not sufficiently aware that most questions are basically fixed and are asked again and again in different forms,” ​​says Jürgen Hesse. In essence, almost everything boils down to just three big questions.

Mistake 2: Serious omissions in targeted preparation

“Every petty criminal knows in advance what he wants to say during the interrogation, namely: I’m innocent,” says Hesse. Anyone who goes into a job interview should also consider beforehand which messages they absolutely want to get rid of. What are your own strengths and potential? How do I answer difficult questions? “In addition, it can’t do any harm to come up with a few phrases when you need to gain time,” says Hesse. For example: “I’m not sure if I understood your question correctly” or “What exactly are you getting at?”

Mistake 3: Out of sheer excitement, you no longer listen properly

Yes, you should prepare important messages and think about what you want to say beforehand. But: Those who simply tell their boots and don’t let a real conversation come up, also collect minus points. “You have to try to get your excitement under control so as not to come across as a scaredy-cat,” says Hesse. Good preparation helps to feel safe so that you can react spontaneously.

Mistake 4: Can’t stand a pause in conversation

In order to lure the applicant out of the reserve, HR managers can ask quick questions – or do the opposite: simply remain silent. Many candidates then feel compelled to hastily fill in the resulting pause in the conversation – and may babble about their necks and necks. “If you have uncomfortable questions, you shouldn’t say more than you actually intended,” says Hesse. He recommends simply enduring small pauses in conversation.

Mistake 5: Not mastering the rules of small talk

To start off, talking briefly about the journey, the weather or similar harmless things creates a pleasant atmosphere for conversation and is considered good manners. “Under no circumstances should you press the other person with statements like ‘Let’s get started,'” says Hesse. Also not a good idea: Reject the offered drink or make extravagant special requests (“Do you have tomato juice?”). According to Hesse, the great office or the beautiful view are suitable topics for small talk. “But be careful when commenting on the family photos: if you take the wife for the daughter, you’ll quickly put your foot in it.”

Note: This text was first published in 2018. We are republishing it as a service piece for current events. According to a representative Insa survey reported by the “Bild” newspaper, almost every fifth employee in Germany would like to change jobs this year.