AVOID EMBARRASSING JOB INTERVIEW MISTAKES

TOP RECRUITER ROXANNE CALDER LETS US IN ON SOME DOOZIES, AND HOW TO RECOVER FROM THEM EVERY TIME

- Andrea Black

It’s the stuff of nightmares – you’ve prepped for a job interview, you’re wearing your business best with head held high, you confidently enter into answering questions only to completely blow it. You’re not alone.

According to recruiter Roxanne Calder, who has sat in on countess job interviews over 25 years, some candidates still surprise her with the mistakes they make that can so easily be avoided.

“Here’s the thing: you can stuff up an interview and still be offered the role,” says Roxanne. “It’s how you handle the situation that counts. I’ve seen people run absurdly late, utter swear words and wear an outfit covered with toddler vomit – and these people still got the job.”

Here are a few common interview scenarios and ways to avoid the situation or recover when things don’t go your way.

EYES ON THE PRIZE

THE DISASTER

The candidate took a phone call mid-interview with a “sorry, I need to take this call”, then left the room and never came back. We sat there waiting silently for 20 minutes. Pre-phone call, the interview was going well. Had they apologised and explained why the call was necessary, the job was theirs. Instead, they thought they had blown it and couldn’t face returning to the interview.

ROXANNE’S TIP

Turn mobiles off, without exception. It shows respect, manners and awareness of boundaries. But, if it happens to ring, apologise and turn it off. I would suggest a quick apology again at the end of the interview.

WHEN YOUR MIND GOES BLANK

THE DISASTER