Never in an Interview...

By Samantha Werry

Based of a career article I found by Caroline Dowd-Higgins, these are the top things to never do in an interview. I found these top 6 to be very inspiring and now I know I will never forget these little pieces of information when I am interviewing for any job. For many people, the most stressful part is the interview process, so if you remember these little tips, it can help you out a whole bunch.

The first one she mentioned was Carrying too much stuff into the interview. For me, I bring a portfolio of my past work with my resume as well, and a pen or pencil and nothing more. You want to appear as a professional, not a harried student with a backpack and folders at hand trying to get to class on time. I know many of us are students who have interviews here on campus. If you do, always ask if you can store your backpack or jacket somewhere while you are interviewing. When it comes to drinks, do not bring any. Have water stored in your backpack just in case. If they offer you water, always take it. You never know when you will get thirsty or a coughing fit will happen.

The next tip she mentioned was Bragging that you're a 'perfectionist.' Many interviewers will see this as a red flag. It can mean you are difficult to work with and always want things to go your way. You want to tell the truth, but do it in a flattering way by saying you are detail-oriented. This way you are still telling the truth, but in a calmer way that will not freak out the interviewer.

Confessing to multiple weaknesses was the next talked about. Typically, interviewers ask you to describe your biggest weakness to see if you are self-aware enough to identify something you can improve upon. But that doesn't mean you should rattle off a full, big list. Name at least one weakness that is relevant to the job and yourself, and explain how you are working to improve that skill.

When she mentioned Giving obviously rehearsed answers, it made me think, I want to be prepared don’t I? Well after I thought about it, yes you do want to be prepared, but not set on answering a set way. It's important that you seem relatable, natural and likable, as well as smart. You do not want to seem like a drone doing only what you have to. Let your personality shine and if you do not fit, then the job was not right for you in the first place.

This one is my favorite and is so the truth. Having no clue about the company you're interviewing with. You should always be able to answer questions about the company. If not, you seem unprepared and not even interested in working there at all. It seems like you are not wanting to be there and they know that. Before the interview, you need to check out the company's website and speak with people who might also know the organization. This is they determines if you are just trying to get any job or you are genuinely interested in their company and this particular opportunity. An interviewer wants to know that you took the time to get to know them since competition is fierce and not preparing points out a lack of seriousness. Always go to their website for more information.

NEVER  Answer your phone or fumble with it. Sure, it's rude if the interviewer is constantly checking his phone, but if your phone goes off during the interview, you just look unprofessional. You better say sorry about 50 times and turn if off and store it away from you. Good rule of thumb, turn if off or don’t bring it inside with you.

After all of her topics, I believe these are a great rule of thumb to always consider. My number one thing is to let your personality shine, because if you are being what they want you to be, you might end up hating the job you get. You should always get a job you really are interested about because in the end if you hate it, you will quite shortly after and then you have to go through this process all over again.