The job interview is a key moment in the selection process to get that job we want so much.

If you are one of the lucky candidates who has made it this far, it means that something on your resume has caught the attention of the recruiter. Now is the time to make it clear that you are the ideal person for the job being offered, so you should be careful not to let this great opportunity come to nothing . So, be careful about exposing certain defects in job interviews.

Job interviews today

Those who are not experts in recruitment may not know what competency-based interviews are, a popular interview format today.

This type of interview provides more advantages and is more effective in predicting job performance than the classic interview . It is born from the idea that we all have a series of competences, which are the technical skills, motivations, attitudes and values, what we know how to do and the knowledge and training we have that make us unique. These qualities are the ones that allow us to fit or not in a given position and organization.

The interview by competencies and their characteristics

The competence interview helps the interviewer and makes the job easier, because he or she can know exactly what he or she is looking for from you in good time to be able to evaluate you more efficiently. Competence interviews aim to measure these individual qualities and help to identify, through different questions, whether or not you possess the competences for that particular workplace.

G trough this vision of competencies, what is known as the Critical Incident Interview (BEI) was born. In this type of interview, the recruiter usually asks the interviewee to explain a situation in her/his life in which s/he has behaved in a certain way. For example: “tell me about a situation at your old job where you had to solve a problem with some clients”.

The interviewee’s response will help the recruiter evaluate his/her skills, and determine whether or not the candidate can solve problems in times of stress, has initiative, leadership skills, and whether or not he/she loses his/her temper in situations where the demand is greater.

Defects that can end your chances of getting the job

Since the job interview is an opportunity to demonstrate your skills, it is necessary that you do not make mistakes and that you do not show certain common defects . You are probably not the only candidate who aspires to get that position, so you should leave a good impression so that the recruiter chooses you.

If you want to maximize your chances of getting that job you want so badly, just avoid these points.

1. Going without the prepared interview

You will only have one opportunity for the recruiter to get to know you and think about whether you are a good candidate for the position. Now that you have read this article and know what competency interviews are, you need to know that you should conduct the interview more or less prepared .

Obviously you don’t know what the interviewer is going to ask you, but you can get an idea of what the job requirements are. If the job is for a receptionist, you will probably be asked for a number of skills, such as communication skills, teamwork, ambition for the job, etc. Finding out what the requirements of the job are can help you think of possible critical incident scenarios or questions that the recruiter might ask you. It’s all about having an overview.

Likewise, it is also important that you know the organization and details of the company , as this shows that you are interested in working with them. Don’t fall into the trap of being unaware.

2. Lying about your information or experience

Lying in a job interview is not a good option . So make sure that lying doesn’t become a weak point in your application. It is one of the defects that disqualify you directly.This includes not lying on your CV either, as it can be a very embarrassing situation if you get caught in the middle of an interview.

3. Talking badly about previous companies and bosses

It is quite common for the interviewer to want to find out the reason why you are not in the old company, as he or she can give you information about what you look like. Don’t take this question as an opportunity to bring up some grudges you may have towards your old company or towards your former employers. You better leave a good taste in your mouth and don’t talk bad about them.

4. Arriving late

If there is something that will automatically remove you from the application for a job it is arriving late . If you are not able to get to such an important appointment on time, how are you going to do it on a job every day? If you want to make a good impression, try to be on time.

5. Dressing inappropriately

Ideally, you should research what the company that is going to interview you is like and what the position requires . For example, if you aspire to a creative job you may not need to wear a tie. However, if you choose to work in a serious company, you should probably dress formally. If you are not sure how you should dress, you may want to dress formally, but not necessarily with a suit and tie.

6. Show insecurity

Generally, companies want people who are self-confident and who bring something to the organization, with enough initiative and commitment to successfully perform their duties. It is important that during the interview you feel confident and express how much you can contribute to the company.

  • If you need some tips to improve your self-confidence, just read our article: “How to increase self-confidence in 6 steps”

7. Not showing good body language

When you don’t trust yourself or lie during a job interview, you often show body language that doesn’t match what you’re saying. The interviewer may perceive when a person does not make eye contact, does not have good posture, shows forced behaviour, etc. One should be relaxed so that this is not a weak point in his/her interview .

8. Neglecting correct verbal communication

Communication is essential in the interview , and neglecting the situation in which one is by sinning of an excess of confidence, can bring negative consequences for the development of the interview.

The interviewer is not your friend, but a person who is evaluating you. Therefore, you should avoid giving too much irrelevant or compromising information or using vulgar vocabulary or overly colloquial expressions. It is better to use formal and respectful vocabulary, but without losing your naturalness.

9. Interrupt the interviewer while speaking

In a job interview you should measure the times well so as not to appear rude , because if you interrupt the interviewer, he or she will think that you are talking to an anxious, disrespectful and even rude person. Therefore, first you must listen and attend to the recruiter. You will have time to express yourself.

10. Talking about salary or vacation too early in the interview

Obviously, we all want to talk about these issues, but in the interview there is time for everything . Especially in the initial phases, it is not a good option to talk about holidays or salary. It is better to wait for the interviewer to talk about it or to wait until the end of the interview to make the comment in a subtle way.

11. Lack of interest

This may show a lack of interest in the position, as well as not worrying about preparing for the interview . Companies want motivated people, who will work hard to make the company successful. If you ask about an entry vacation, it can be bad. However, it can be even worse not to ask anything and to show that there is no interest in the position.

12. To say you have no defects

It is very frequent that in the job interview you are asked about your defects and virtues . These questions follow the procedure of the skills interview, in which the aim is to find out your degree of sincerity.

To say that you have no defects is unrealistic, so the correct answer would be that you have some defect. Now, you must be careful in answering this question. If you say that you are an aggressive person, you will probably be dismissed for the position at the first sign of change. On the other hand, if you say that sometimes you can be too much of a perfectionist, it means that you will do a good job even though you may never value something you have done well. The second answer is not a virtue, but it’s not so bad that you can’t be considered for the job either.

  • If you know other trick questions, you can read our article: “Job interviews: 8 trick questions (and how to manage them successfully)”

13. Make it clear that you do not like teamwork

Another trick question you may be asked is whether you like teamwork or individual work . Teamwork is one of the skills most valued by recruiters , so a company will not want to have someone on its team who goes it alone

If you want to be successful, try to make it clear that you like working with others, you already consider it beneficial for the performance of the organization and for obtaining better results. Unity is strength.