A job interview is your chance to make a killer first impression and prove to the hiring manager that you're the best person for the job.
But sometimes nerves get the best of us — or we just don't prepare properly — and we end up doing things that discount our qualifications and make us seem irresponsible or incompetent.
"I've easily conducted over 200 job interviews in the past 12 months," says Liz Wessel, CEO and cofounder of WayUp, a site used by hundreds of thousands of college students to find jobs at places like Microsoft, Uber, Disney, and Google, where Wessel previously worked. "Even the brightest and most experienced candidates seem to have issues following best practices for interviewing."
She says these are some of the worst mistakes job candidates make in (or before) interviews that can make them look seriously unqualified:
1. Talking about how nervous you are
You might think it's endearing to admit to nerves in an interview, says Wessel. But the truth is, it's not a good look. "Employers expect you to be an adult, calm under pressure, and able to handle the kinds of stressful situations that you might encounter in the workplace. Talking about your nerves, and by implication looking for pity, is a great to way to send them the message that you're not ready to handle a real office environment."
2. Failing to do your research
"I once had a candidate walk into the room and ask me if I was the office manager," Wessel recalls. "Not a great start!"
As you prepare for an interview, you should find out everything you can about the company, its leaders, and the person with whom you'll be speaking, she continues. "Employers want to see that you've done your homework, and that you're engaged with the company and its issues."
It's totally fine to ask questions, she says, but not questions that you should already know the answer to or can easily answer with a quick Google search.
"Good prep work will help you ask insightful, educated questions so you can stand out," Wessel says.
3. Answering questions without elaborating
Interviewers aren't looking for one-word answers — they're looking for stories about how you made an impact in previous roles, she explains. "So when an interviewer brings up your past role as the president of a club, or as an intern at a startup, don't just say, 'Yes, that was a lot of fun.' Explain! This is your chance to shine."
Talk about what you learned; how you tackled tough issues, and how you helped bring success to the organization, Wessel advises.
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