By Simon O'Mahony
Congratulations, you have landed a job interview, and with
some serious competition in the job market, you don’t want to blow it. There
are a lot of great things you should do and ask in a job interview, but more
importantly there are a lot of things you should not do, and something’s you
should avoid all together. Here are a few things that make me itch when
interviewing people.
1.
A loose
handshake. It is an immediate turn off. You should always greet your
interviewer with a good firm handshake and good eye contact. A loose handshake
shows lack of confidence and passion.
2.
Slouching.
Sit up straight in your chair. Slouching shows lack of interest and lack of
confidence. Good posture is a direct expression of confidence and shows you
will not be intimidated by an interviewer.
3.
Nervous habits.
We all have them. However, you need to make a point of abolishing them during
your interview. They become a major distraction to the point where an
interviewer may spend more time watching you twitch rather than listening to
what you are saying.
4.
The
Debbie Downer. The interviewer will be trying to determine if you will be a
good culture fit, fit well with the team, and overall be a fun and positive
person to work with. Avoid negative comments and a pessimistic attitude as
people generally want to surround themselves with upbeat, positive people.
5.
Saying NO
when you are asked if you have any questions. This is simple. Saying "no" shows
complete lack of interest in the company and the position. Having questions
prepared shows you are interested, inquisitive, and generally are passionate
about the company and the position.
6.
The
Chatty Cathy. Talking a mile-a-minute is an annoyance and a hindrance. The interviewer should not have to try
to control the conversation to the point it becomes a distraction. Allow the
interviewer to get his or her word in, and if you notice you are rambling, take
a deep breath and shorten your answers and keep them relevant.
7.
No
Resume. You probably have applied online and sent your resume to a
recruiter, however always, always, bring a few printed resumes with you.
Originally from Dublin, Ireland, Simon is
responsible for hiring management positions for Sage Hospitality
nationwide and for their corporate office in downtown Denver. He is also
involved in overall recruiting initiatives including college recruiting
programs, diversity initiatives, and employer branding. Simon works
with several local and nationwide agencies, colleges, universities, in
order to build a network and pipeline of candidates. In 2009 he was the
recipient of the Sage Innovation Award as a result of his use of social
media networking to enhance the recruiting process.
When he is not recruiting, (Recruiters are always working!) Simon enjoys Colorado’s beautiful outdoors. He also has a passion for photography and while it sounds like a cliché he loves meeting new people (which is why he probably loves recruiting!). Simon is a supporter of several non-profit organizations in Denver.
When he is not recruiting, (Recruiters are always working!) Simon enjoys Colorado’s beautiful outdoors. He also has a passion for photography and while it sounds like a cliché he loves meeting new people (which is why he probably loves recruiting!). Simon is a supporter of several non-profit organizations in Denver.
Simon can be reached at Simon.OMahony@SageHospitality.com.