There are always reasons for failing at a task, aren’t there? In fact, it is far easier to fail at something than to succeed at that same thing – and the reason for this is not far-fetched: you only need to do nothing to fail, and you only need to do something extraordinary to succeed. Whatever your reasons for failing past job interviews, you still stand a good chance of failing the coming job interview unless of course, you watch out for the following points –
1. Lying on your CV
The first thing that predisposes you to fail this coming interview is lying on your CV or resume. Do not ever think that interviewers won’t crosscheck facts or conduct background checks or even contact your referees. They often do without letting you know. Do not ever lie in your CV because if you can’t adequately defend a point in your CV, you will be assumed to have lied about it and that seals your fate right there.
2. Acting indifferent or trying to play it cool
You will automatically fail this coming interview if you ever try to be too cool as if with your “homies” or homeboys. You will be perceived as indifferent to the job you are interviewing for and therefore a waste of time if employed. And for Christ’s sake, don’t ever go for interviews if you care less about the job because your passion for it will show through. If you act indifferent or play it cool with the interviewers, then you are gone.
3. Sharing confidential or proprietary information about current employers
It is always possible to attend job interviews while still employed elsewhere, but learn to keep your current employer’s secrets when being interviewed for any current opening. Don’t share proprietary or confidential information about your current employer to interviewers because that shows you could sell anyone out given the right motivations.
4. Talking ill of past employers
One of the best ways to fail the next interview is by taking undue swipes at your former employers. Talking ill of your past employers fixes you straight off. Don’t talk ill of your former employers even if you didn’t leave their employ under favorable conditions. Be discreet and respectful, and refrain from any ill-language directed at your former place of work.
5. Ignorance about company or position applied for
I think this applied to me too well. I was invited to attend an interview in Lagos, Nigeria but couldn’t really remember when I applied for the job or which company I applied to. The reason for this was that I had applied to about eight different companies within one month. I got there and while waiting to be called in, I asked other candidates the name of the company and funnily they didn’t know too, and I wasn’t sure what job I had applied for. Luckily I wasn’t interviewed that day because due to the crowd of candidates, others like me that had traveled down from other states were asked to leave and that a fresh date would be set for us. If I had been interviewed that day, I would surely have failed it outrightly.
6. Arrogance or overconfidence
Being overconfident might be misconstrued as arrogance, so you better watch it at the interview. You might end up undoing yourself if you pass along as someone who’s proud and arrogant unless of course, you tone down your confidence.