9 Interview Traps and Tricks to Avoid Them
9 Interview Traps and Tricks to Avoid Them
August 18, 2022

Sometimes at an interview, we can feel trapped when things aren’t going our way.

The truth is, we’re usually the ones who lay our own traps.

But the good news is that we’re also the ones who can do exactly what we need to do to avoid them!

In today’s article, we’ll review 9 of the biggest interview traps and the tricks you can use to steer clear!

Trap #1:

Personal Appearance

Most people do their best to dress up for an interview. But sometimes there’s such a thing as being overdressed for the occasion.

If you wear an outfit that is either too formal or not formal enough, you can come across as a bad fit for the company culture.

The Trick:

Dress as formally as your interviewer or only slightly more formal.

Not sure what they might wear? Visit the business ahead of time if you can to see what the average employee wears, or ask other employees you know about the dress code.

And if you aren’t sure how to dress for an interview in the first place, try going to your local businesswear outfitters and talk to a staff member for assistance!

Trap #2:

Appearing Disinterested

Maybe you actually are interested in the job, but maybe you aren’t sending the right signs of enthusiasm.

Your recruiter is looking for subtle clues to see that you are motivated for the role. And if your behaviour doesn’t match your level of interest, it can send the wrong message.

The Trick:

Pay attention to your tone as you speak. Are you being dynamic with your volume and pitch?

And what about your body language? Are you upright and engaged when listening to them speak?

Think about a time when you spoke excitedly to a friend and told them about something interesting in your life. That’s the type of behaviour that communicates your interest to others.

Trap #3:

Coming on too strong

It’s possible to seem too eager, or even aggressive.

If you are talking over the interviewer, crossing your arms, or raising your voice, you can make them uncomfortable with you (and with hiring you).

The Trick:

Try not to dominate the conversation. Remember, it’s a conversation not a one-person speech.

Keep your body language friendly and open, and give your recruiter space to speak.

Trap #4:

Poor Communication

It’s not just what you have to say — it’s how you say it.

Even if you have a lot of good points that will help you reveal your value, if you can’t communicate them clearly then your recruiter won’t understand your worth.

The Trick:

Practice what you’re going to talk about in advance.

Make sure you can explain what you need to in short, clear sentences. Think about the structure of your stories, and keep your grammar as simple as possible.

It’s also a good idea to make sure your vocabulary is up to date. Try reading up on the latest industry topics so you know the right jargon to use. Or refer to the keywords in the job requirements to find the perfect things to say!

Trap #5:

Talking Down About Others

This trap usually reveals itself when your interviewer asks you to describe a past conflict or difficult situation, and how you resolved it.

If you focus on the negative aspects of the story (or the people in it) then you’ll come across as a negative person.

The Trick:

Remember that the focus of these questions is your “emotional intelligence”. That means your ability to empathize, sympathize with, and recognize others.

Don’t discuss past coworkers or employers in a negative light, even if you had a negative experience. Instead, discuss how you were able to turn the situation positive.

In other words, talk about the situation, not the other people.

Trap #6:

Money On The Mind

It’s expected that at some point in the hiring process, you and your recruiter will need to discuss salary and benefits. You might even need to negotiate for your starting pay.

And while it is important to make sure you have a clear understanding of the financial situation that comes with the job, your recruiter is more interested in the value that you bring to the company. Hassling them about salary, especially before a job offer has been extended, is a big faux pas.

The Trick:

Let the recruiter bring up the topic of salary first. And if you need to negotiate, be polite.

The most important thing is to listen actively to what they tell you about money. If it isn’t negotiable, don’t try to negotiate.

You should also research industry standards, so that if it does come to a negotiation, you aren’t asking for something unreasonable.

Trap #7:

Being Too Serious

Some job seekers confuse “formal” with “no fun”.

In most cases, being too serious and grim will not just darken the mood, it will darken your chances of getting hired.

The Trick:

Keep things light, but be self-aware.

Humour is often a sign of intelligence and a good way to make a connection with others.

Just make sure you have fun, but don’t make fun. You shouldn’t make any light-hearted comments at the expense of others. Instead, just try to say what you were already going to say with a smile!

Trap #8:

Lacking Confidence

If you don’t believe in yourself, why should a recruiter believe in your abilities as an employee?

It’s completely normal to be a bit nervous about an interview, but when you let those nerves take control, you lose control of the interview.

The Trick:

Practice interviews with someone you trust. Especially a mentor, or an employment expert (like the Employment Consultants at ReStart!)

You can even practice your delivery in a mirror. Look for signs of nervousness like bad posture or closed body language. And practice your delivery so that you can talk about yourself without being too quiet or using too many filler words.

Trap #9:

Eye Contact

You should be making eye contact more often than not when talking to your interviewer.

That said, it’s easy to get caught up in your head and start breaking eye contact, which makes you seem distracted and disinterested.

The Trick:

Keep eye contact while the other person is speaking. And when it’s your turn, look at them often enough to gauge their reaction. And be sure to blink normally (you’d be surprised how easy it is to forget to blink when we’re anxious and focused).

If you bring notes, or a paper resume, or are handed any reading material by your interviewer, avoid getting distracted by it. It’s ok to check notes for specific details, but don’t read from them like a script.

And absolutely do not look away to check your phone.

Conclusion

Interviews take a lot of effort, and require careful planning to avoid getting trapped. But with a bit of extra attention to the things we just learned, you can avoid falling into your own trap!

Want to get a personalized plan for handling interviews, applications, negotiations — and anything related to finding a job you’ll love? Talk to us today for free 1-on-1 support!