There are ways to make a great impression during an interview. If you are not a hiring manager, it might be challenging to know what an interviewer is looking for. In order to avoid looking like a blaring red flag during an interview, it would be helpful to learn about what quickly makes hiring managers reject you for a role.
Red Flag #1 Rudeness
This might be self-explanatory, but it is essential to include. You only get one first impression, so putting your best foot forward is necessary. Being rude during your interview is a sure-fire way to get added to the “Do not hire” list. Rudeness can include, but is not limited to:
- being late
- showing up unprepared
- dressing sloppy or lazy
- swearing
Red Flag #2 Bragging About Other Offers
Bragging is something that can come off as bad taste. Especially when it is about having other offers for the same job, bragging about offers can turn off a hiring manager. This isn’t polite and can discourage the hiring community from extending a job offer because you already have many offers. This will lead them to hire the next candidate.
Red Flag #3 No Passion for the role
An employer wants to hire someone excited to work with them and who can bring optimism to the table. If you are not communicating your passion through explicit wording or non-verbal communication, the hiring committee would have no idea that you wanted the job. No passion can indicate a worker that does not want to do their job.
Red Flag #4 Lack of Ownership
In the real world, no one is perfect, which can lead to some mistakes in the workforce. If a potential employee is constantly blaming their downfalls on other people, then it can signify that this person does not learn from their mistakes. If these topics are brought up in an interview, it is essential to take ownership of them and share how you have learned from the experience.
Red Flag #5 Not Asking Questions
If a potential employee does not ask any questions during an interview, it is hard to tell if they are interested in the job or employer. The most qualified candidates will ask questions to learn more about the role. Also, they do not quickly jump from one question to the next as if they were ticking off boxes. Make sure you understand what they are saying, and follow up with questions if you don’t.
Red Flag #6 Not Doing Research on the Employer
It is essential to research the school district (or school) before going in for the interview. This will give you a better understanding of the role and your potential employer and give you ideas of questions to ask during the interview. If you do not do any research, and it is evident during the interview, you may seem uninterested in the job. This can also make the hiring manager think that you would come unprepared to work.
Now that you know what not to do during an interview, you can learn how to follow up after an interview to leave the best first impression with a future employer.
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