Are you new to the interviewing world, or have you been in the same job for a while and looking to get back out there to interview for a new position? If this is the case, you may go to your family and friends to ask for advice. Some advice you may get will be great, but like all kinds of advice not all of them are accurate. Some of your friends may be in the same boat as you, and share advice with you that may not even be applicable in the job-seeking, interviewing world anymore. Here are 5 misconceptions about job interviewing.
1. Your Resume Must Only be One Page – Keep it to one page because it is believed that interviewers won’t read your resume if it is longer than that.
This is not true! View our “Resume Builder” where we give tips for all areas of your resume!
2. No-Call? No Job – You submitted your application and haven’t heard back from anyone about the position. You assume this means you didn’t get the job, someone else did.
Don’t ever assume. Human Resources Professionals, Hiring Managers, and Recruiters alike usually wait a few weeks after the closing date to review resumes before they start calling candidates. If you don’t get a call after you submit your resume, you can always send an inquiry email or give them a call to ask if they have filled the position. Likely they are still processing resumes.
3. Interviewers Ask the Same Questions – The companies usually ask the same questions so they can compare your answers to the next candidate.
Although this might partially be true, hiring professionals typically ask the same questions for each candidate during the pre-screening process. What are your strengths and weaknesses? Tell me about yourself? What is one of your greatest accomplishments, etc.? Once you get beyond that, you may be asked some additional questions that you will really have to think about. Hiring professionals are also moving toward Behavioral Interviewing to get a better understanding about you as a person and past experiences. Be prepared for not only the typical interview questions but questions that may require much more thought.
4. The Most Qualified Person Gets the Job – You have the degree, the experience, and the skill that the job requires. You are a shoe-in!
This is not always the case. Although having the qualifications for the job will give you a head start. If you and the interviewer do not have the chemistry, or they do not see the value you may bring to the organization, you may not be added to the shortlist. The reason for this is, most companies want to make sure a candidate fits into the culture of an organization. If someone doesn’t seem like a fit, they may not be a long-term employee.
5. Keep Your Answers Short – The last thing you want to do is waste the interviewer’s precious time.
Heeeeeck no! You don’t want to leave an interview feeling like you didn’t explain yourself well enough or you left out important information. Although you don’t want to babble, keeping answers short, isn’t always the way to go. Recently in our blog about behavioral interviewing, we discuss how to answer questions with the S-T-A-R technique. Consider reviewing this method for all types of interview questions.
iMPact Business Group is a staffing agency specializing in Information Technology, Engineering, Finance/Accounting, and Business Administration/Process positions. To connect with one of our professional recruiters, view our job board for all available positions, or submit your resume for consideration here. Click here to learn more about our available work from home opportunities and to submit your resume for consideration.
