17 JOB INTERVIEW DOs AND DON’Ts!
Summary
TLDRThis video from Richard McMahon of PassMyInterview.com shares 17 essential job interview do's and don'ts. Key tips include preparing answers for common questions, researching the company, staying positive, and dressing professionally. McMahon stresses avoiding negativity about past employers, showing flexibility, and maintaining good manners. He emphasizes the importance of backing up claims with evidence, practicing your answers, and following up with a thank-you email after the interview. These strategies aim to help candidates boost confidence, impress interviewers, and stand out as strong contenders for any role.
Takeaways
- 😀 Prepare an answer to the first question, 'Tell me about yourself,' to overcome initial interview nerves and set the tone for the rest of the interview.
- 📄 Always read the job description beforehand to align your strengths with what the interviewer is looking for.
- 🚫 Do not speak negatively about former employers or co-workers, as it may make you appear unprofessional.
- 🔍 Research the company thoroughly to answer questions like 'Why do you want to work for us?' effectively.
- 💼 Avoid mentioning pay or benefits as the primary reason for wanting the job. Focus on company culture and long-term satisfaction.
- 👔 Dress professionally, regardless of the job position, as it reflects your intentions and high standards.
- ❓ Have at least three smart questions ready to ask at the end of the interview to show genuine interest in the company.
- 🪑 Sit upright and avoid slouching during the interview to convey confidence and discipline.
- 😌 Overcome interview nerves by treating the interview as a meeting, not a formal test.
- 🙋♂️ Be prepared to admit weaknesses, but focus on areas you are working to improve to show self-awareness and growth potential.
Q & A
What is the first tip given for succeeding in a job interview?
-The first tip is to prepare your answer to the common interview question, 'Tell me about yourself.' This will help you overcome nerves and set a positive tone for the rest of the interview.
Why is it important to read the job description before attending the interview?
-Reading the job description allows you to understand the skills and qualities the interviewer is looking for. This enables you to align your strengths with those listed in the job description and answer questions effectively, such as 'What are your strengths?'
Why should you avoid speaking negatively about your former employer?
-Speaking negatively about your former employer can make you seem unprofessional and difficult to work with. It's important to come across as positive and friendly, as this shows you can fit easily into a new team.
How can you impress the interviewer with company knowledge?
-You can impress the interviewer by researching the company beforehand. This includes visiting their website, checking social media, and learning about their products and services. It helps you answer questions like 'Why do you want to work for us?' confidently.
What should you avoid mentioning when asked, 'Why do you want this job?'
-You should avoid mentioning pay or benefits as reasons for wanting the job. Instead, focus on company culture, the opportunity to contribute, and your personal career goals to show you are genuinely interested in the role for professional growth.
Why is dressing professionally for a job interview important?
-Dressing professionally shows that you take the interview seriously and have high standards. It reflects positively on your intentions and gives the interviewer a good impression of your professionalism.
What are some smart questions to ask at the end of the interview?
-Some smart questions include: 'What advice would you give to the successful candidate who wants to excel in the role?', 'What would you need me to concentrate on in the first 30 days?', and 'What are the next steps in the hiring process?'
How can you prevent nerves from getting the best of you during an interview?
-One way to manage nerves is to treat the interview like a meeting between you and the potential employer. Reframing it as a conversation helps you feel more in control and reduces anxiety.
What is a good way to respond when asked about your biggest weakness?
-A good response is to mention a real weakness but show willingness to improve. For example, 'I get nervous speaking in front of large groups, but I'm eager to improve in this area and would welcome opportunities to give presentations.'
Why is it important to have evidence to back up your claims during an interview?
-Having evidence to support your claims, such as examples of teamwork or problem-solving, makes your statements more credible. It sets you apart from other candidates who may make unsupported claims about their skills.
Outlines
📋 Introduction and First Tip: Preparing for Interview Questions
Richard McMahon introduces himself and his website, PassMyInterview.com, and explains that the video will cover 17 job interview do's and don'ts. He encourages viewers to subscribe for more interview tips. The first tip focuses on preparing for the question 'Tell me about yourself,' as this can help overcome interview nerves. A sample answer is provided, emphasizing confidence, experience, and a positive impact on the company.
📄 Know the Job Description and Avoid Negativity
Tip two advises candidates to read the job description before the interview, allowing them to align their strengths with the role’s requirements. Tip three warns against speaking negatively about former employers or co-workers, suggesting instead to highlight the desire for new challenges in a positive tone. An example response to 'Why do you want to leave your job?' is provided, focusing on seeking a fresh challenge without badmouthing previous employers.
🔍 Research the Company and Focus on Passion, Not Pay
The fourth tip stresses the importance of researching the company to answer questions like 'Why do you want to work for us?' Tip five advises against mentioning pay or benefits when asked why you want the job. Instead, candidates should express their enthusiasm for the company's culture and the opportunity to contribute to the team. A sample answer demonstrates how to highlight the company’s values and the candidate’s long-term job satisfaction.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Interview Preparation
💡Tell Me About Yourself
💡Strengths
💡Weaknesses
💡Company Research
💡Professional Appearance
💡Behavioral Questions
💡Positive Attitude
💡Follow-up
💡Interview Nerves
Highlights
Prepare your answer to the first question, 'Tell me about yourself,' as it helps ease interview anxiety.
Give a positive and confident example when answering 'Tell me about yourself' to set the tone for the rest of the interview.
Read the job description carefully before the interview to align your strengths with the required skills.
Avoid speaking negatively about previous employers to maintain a positive and professional impression.
Research the company thoroughly before the interview to impress with detailed answers on why you want to work for them.
Don't mention pay or benefits as your main motivation for applying; instead, focus on job satisfaction and contributing to the company.
Dress professionally to make a strong first impression and show respect for the interview process.
Prepare three smart questions to ask at the end of the interview, such as how to excel in the role or next steps in the process.
Maintain proper posture during the interview to show discipline and engagement.
Practice viewing the interview as a meeting to reduce nerves and maintain control over your responses.
Provide a genuine weakness when asked about it, along with an explanation of how you are working to improve.
Practice your answers to common questions in front of a mirror or with someone else to build confidence.
Familiarize yourself with your resume and bring a copy to the interview in case the interviewer asks you to walk through it.
Support any claims about your skills with real-life examples to stand out as a credible candidate.
Follow up after the interview with a thank-you email to leave a positive, lasting impression.
Transcripts
hi there my name is richard mcmahon from
the interview training website
passmyinterview.com and in this next
tutorial i will give you 17 job
interview do's and don'ts so if you have
a job interview coming up for any role
or any organization the interview tips
that i'm about to give you are going to
make a massive difference to your
performance at your job interview and
just very quickly if you are new to the
channel please make sure you hit the
subscribe button because then i can keep
you updated with all the latest
interview tips top scoring answers and
strategies and please give the video a
like because that tells me you find the
tutorials useful thank you very much
let's get straight into the presentation
number one
do make sure you get your answer ready
to the first interview question tell me
about yourself now most people get hit
by interview nerves at the start of
their job interview but a great way to
quickly overcome any anxiety or
interview jitters is to make sure you
prepare your answer to the question tell
me about yourself because if you can
answer this question with confidence it
sets you up nicely for the rest of your
interview here's a great example answer
to the interview question tell me about
yourself tell me about yourself here we
go i am a dedicated hard-working
professional who takes great pride in
the work i do for my employer now being
someone who already has the skills and
qualities needed in this role i am
confident i can quickly have a positive
impact in your team over the years i've
worked in several positions that have
prepared me for this role i have a
proven track record of achievement for
example in my last job i helped the
company increase sales by recommending
different ways to my manager that the
company could advertise its products and
services more effectively online
outside of work i keep myself fit and
active which in turn enables me to
maintain optimum concentration levels
when i am at work
people have often described me as
trustworthy and reliable a great
teamworker and someone who is not afraid
to take on challenges that are outside
of my comfort zone if you do employ me i
will work hard to help the company beat
its closest competitors and i will
strive to continually improve in the
position that's a fantastic answer to
that first interview question tell me
about yourself number two
do read the job description before you
attend your interview now the job
description tells you the different
skills and qualities the interviewer is
looking for now if you know the skills
and qualities needed for the job you've
applied for you can easily answer the
interview question what are your
strengths
now all you need to do is align your
strengths with those listed on the job
description number three don't be
negative about former employers or
co-workers now a surefire way to fail
your interview is to talk negatively
about your previous employer now lots of
candidates do this because they feel
their employer treated them poorly they
had a bad boss or the work environment
was toxic however it is essential that
you come across in your interview as a
positive and friendly collaborator who
can easily fit into their team so when
the interviewer says to you why do you
want to leave your job say this i want
to leave my job because i am seeking a
fresh challenge with a different team
where i can put my experience skills and
expertise to good use
i've loved working for my employer but i
am now ready for a change with hopefully
your company in this role number four
do make sure you research the company
before your job interview now a simple
yet highly effective way to impress at
your job interview is to research their
company my advice is to look at their
website check out their social media
pages and look into their products and
services now by researching their
company it will enable you to answer the
interview questions why do you want to
work for us and what you know about our
company number five don't ever say the
pay or the benefits are what made you
apply for the position now when the
hiring manager says to you why do you
want this job don't mention the pay or
the perks instead give an answer that
shows you want the job for reasons that
allow you to work in a positive
environment and that will enable you to
achieve your goals so here's a brilliant
example answer to the tough interview
question why do you want this job why do
you want this job here we go i want this
job because my research tells me you
have a great company culture and working
environment and you support your staff
to be the best versions of themselves
possible i want this job because i feel
i can make a big difference to the team
in the role and i will be able to add
value to your company job satisfaction
is very important to me and i believe i
will be very happy in this position for
many years to come number six
do make sure you dress professionally
for your job interview now regardless of
the job you are applying for make an
effort in your appearance it says so
much about your intentions and it also
tells the interviewer you have high
standards so for example if i turned up
to a job interview dressed like this
would you hire me probably not so make
an effort in your appearance make sure
you dress professionally because it will
make a big difference number seven do
make sure you have three smart questions
ready to ask at the end of your job
interview now there is a strong
possibility the hiring manager will say
to you at the end of your interview do
you have any questions for us now this
is your chance to show the interviewer
you want to work for their company you
want it to succeed and you are a smart
person who they should seriously
consider hiring let me now give you
three great questions to ask at the end
of your interview question number one
what advice would you give to the
successful candidate who wants to excel
in the role question number two what
would you need me to concentrate on in
the first 30 days of starting that's a
great question and number three what are
the next steps of the process and when
could i contact you to find out the
results of my interview number eight do
not slouch in the interview chair this
is really poor because if you do slouch
in the interview chair it gives the
impression you are lazy and you lack
discipline make sure you sit upright in
the interview chair smile and be
confident in your abilities number nine
don't let nerves get the better of you
now one of the reasons why so many
people fail interviews is because nerves
get the better of them now one way to
overcome interview nerves is to start
treating the interview as a meeting
between you and a potential employer now
the word interview makes you feel
nervous so by treating it as a meeting
which at the end of the day that's all
it is will help you regain control of
your feelings now for more tips on how
to overcome interview nerves click the
link at the top of the video when you're
ready number 10
don't ever say in an interview you don't
have any weaknesses so during your job
interview you will need to answer the
tough interview question what's your
biggest weakness it is essential you do
actually give a weakness here's a great
response what's your biggest weakness i
would say my biggest weakness is the
fact that i'm not very good yet at
talking in front of large groups of
people i get quite nervous and i forget
what it is i want to say however this is
an area i would genuinely like to
improve in and if there are any
opportunities for me to give
presentations in this role i would love
to give it a try number 11
do make sure you practice your answers
before the interview now one of the best
ways to get ready for your job interview
is to sit down in front of a friend or
relative or even in front of a mirror
and practice your answers to the
questions that are most likely to come
up during your job interview now there
are ten
common questions that feature during all
job interviews here they are question
one tell me about yourself question two
why do you want to work for us question
three what you know about our company
question four why should we hire you
question five what are your strengths
question six what's your biggest
weakness question seven why do you want
to leave your job question number eight
how would you handle conflict with a
co-worker question nine where do you see
yourself in five years and question ten
do you have any questions for us now if
you want brilliant top scoring answers
to those 10 questions and more click
that link in the top right hand corner
of the video when you're ready number 12
do make sure you read through your cv or
resume before the interview now at the
start of your job interview the hiring
manager might ask you to read through
your resume they might say walk me
through your resume therefore it's a
great idea to not only familiarize
yourself with the document but you can
also take a copy along with you to the
interview so you can refer to it number
13 don't say you are good at something
without being able to back it up with
evidence what do i mean by that well
anybody can say during their interview
they are a good team worker or they are
great at solving problems but not
everybody can back up their claims with
evidence so if you want to stand out
during your job interview make sure you
have previous examples ready of where
you have worked as part of a team and
solved a difficult problem at work
because if you give the hiring manager
examples of these under other important
workplace competencies you are far more
likely to get hired number 14
don't rush your answers now there is a
tendency when we are nervous to speak
quickly we rush our answers because we
want the interview to be over now this
is a mistake
calm yourself down
think before you give your answer to the
question and then speak in a calm and
controlled manner because when you slow
down
it puts you across as a confident and
self-assured person number 15 do make
sure you say during your interview that
you are a flexible and adaptable person
this is a great one now one of the
things the hiring manager will look for
from the successful candidate is
flexibility and adaptability if you can
show the hiring manager you are willing
to put in extra hours or make yourself
available to come into work at short
notice when needed you are again far
more likely to get hired number 16
do always show good manners throughout
the interview now good manners are
rarely utilized during job interviews
but they are a great way to impress the
hiring manager so be polite to the
receptionist when you turn up for your
interview don't sit down in the
interview chair until invited to do so
and at the start of the interview say
thank you for being given the
opportunity to be interviewed for the
job so good manners will go a long way
to helping you get the job you deserve
number 17 do make sure you follow up
once you get home after the interview so
one of the best ways to give a good
impression is to send a thank you email
to the hiring manager once you get home
from your interview here's what to send
dear sir madam thank you for giving me
the chance to be interviewed for the
position today i thoroughly enjoyed the
process and learning more about your
company i would very much love to work
for your organization and if you need
any further information to help you make
a decision please do not hesitate to
contact me kind regards richard mcmahon
so there's 17 job interview do's and
don'ts really important tips great tips
that will help you be the standout
candidate at your job interview now if
you want to accelerate your learning
even further and you want to beat all of
the competition at your interview click
that link right now in the top right
hand corner of the video head through to
my website pass myinterview.com and you
can download my full set of 50 top
scoring answers to difficult interview
questions it's a fantastic resource you
can have it within your inbox within two
minutes from now and it's going to help
make you be the standout candidate at
your interview finally don't forget to
hit the subscribe button please do give
the video a like i very much appreciate
your support and connect with me on
linkedin i have put my linkedin link in
the description below the video thank
you very much for watching and i wish
you all the best for passing your
interview
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