Interview Intelligence

It has been a few years since I have interviewed for a job; however, I often recall the stressful experience. You want to make the best impression, but at the same time you are puzzled about exactly what to do. I have heard recruiters and human resource professionals say that they can tell within the first 10 minutes of the interview if the applicant is a good fit.

According to DiversityInc. Magazine there are sure fire ways that will knock you out of the running. Below are the five biggest mistakes job applicants make.

No. 1: Not researching the company before the interview
Researching the company's web site, its statements on diversity management, benefits and the requirements of the job for which you are applying are all advisable. But Joseph Hammill, manager of talent acquisition for corporate human resources at Xerox Corp., adds that applicants should be more comprehensive in their research. Network with people already working at the company; call professional organizations the company is associated with, and ask any fellow college alumni who work at the company about their experience.

No. 2: Inability to articulate needs and desires
"Too many people don't spend time upfront understanding what they bring to the party and they might undersell their particular skills," says Bean. "People need to take time to say, 'Here's what's important to me by rank order.' That can be geography, level of pay, benefits, work/life balance, the type of work you get to do, or even what does the daily grind look like."

No. 3: Being unprofessional in the interview
Of course, be early to all interviews and don't bring food unless asked to do so. At Verizon, one of Tiernan's recruiters told him about an applicant who walked into the interview with a sandwich in hand. Upon reaching the recruiter's office, the applicant placed the sandwich on top of the recruiter's desk. When the recruiter asked the applicant what he planned to do with the sandwich, the applicant said he planned to eat the sandwich and asked if that would be a problem. Think he got the job?

No. 4: Demonstrating poor communication skills
"It's about being able to talk with confidence and expertise about who you are and why you're the best fit," says Kuranty. "That's communication skills." Practice the basics of communication before going to the interview, listening and responding and not talking over the other person. Too many applicants over-talk and don't listen to the questions being asked of them.

No. 5: Not keeping the personal to yourself
With the proliferation of MySpace and other social-network web sites, people often think it harmless to include their social-network identification in their résumés or in an interview. But it is not harmless—too often what is posted on those sites does not demonstrate corporate professionalism. Kuranty adds that applicants should make sure their voicemails reflect a professional attitude as well. When searching for a job, keep the outgoing message simple, such as who they've reached and that you'll return the call soon.

To all the tech-savvy job seekers out there, remain optimistic. Keep the aforementioned tips in mind and cease the opportunity. Nail your next interview, get the job and stay connected!