InterviewTwenty-five interview mistakes and how to avoid them
Candidates rarely lose a job on one big blunder. They lose it on small, avoidable things that add up. Read this list the night before.
Before the interview
- Not reading about the company. Fix: one hour on its website and news. See why this company.
- Not reading your own resume. Every line is a possible question. Fix: be able to speak for two minutes on each.
- Not practising aloud. Fix: say your main answers three times each. See how to prepare.
- Arriving late. Fix: plan to reach fifteen minutes early; phone ahead if delayed.
- Coming without documents. Fix: pack the folder the night before. See dress, documents and the day.
- Untidy dress. Fix: clean, ironed, sober clothes.
- A phone that rings in the room. Fix: silent mode before you enter the building.
In the room: manner
- Sitting before being asked, or slouching. Fix: wait, thank, sit upright.
- No eye contact. Fix: look at the person speaking; include the whole panel.
- Speaking too fast or too softly. Fix: slow down; finish your sentences.
- Interrupting the interviewer. Fix: hear the whole question, pause, then answer.
- Being rude to the receptionist or guard. Their opinion is often asked. Fix: courtesy to everyone.
In the room: answers
- Memorised speeches. They sound stiff and break when the wording changes. Fix: learn points, not scripts.
- Answers with no example. "I am hardworking" proves nothing. Fix: one fact or story for every claim. See the STAR method.
- Answers that run too long. Fix: one to two minutes, then stop.
- One-word answers. Fix: answer, then add one sentence of reason or example.
- Not answering the question asked. Fix: listen; if unsure, ask them to repeat.
- Bluffing. Interviewers probe, and a bluff collapses. Fix: "I am not sure, but I would approach it this way."
- Lying about marks, experience or salary. These are verified. Fix: tell the truth, well.
- Criticising a former employer, teacher or college. Fix: speak about what you are moving towards. See why are you leaving.
- Saying "I can do anything" or "any job is fine". It sounds like having no direction. Fix: say what you are good at and want.
- Asking about salary and leave first. Fix: let them raise it, or keep it for the HR discussion. See salary expectations.
- "No, I have no questions." Fix: prepare five. See questions to ask.
After the interview
- No thank-you, then daily calls. Fix: one thank-you message, one follow-up after a week. See after the interview.
- Not learning from it. Fix: write down the questions the same day and improve the weak answers.
Mistakes freshers make most
- Saying "we" throughout the project explanation, so that nobody knows what they did.
- Not being able to explain their own final year project.
- Giving the textbook definition but no example.
- Treating the HR round as a formality.
- Agreeing to every condition (relocation, shifts, service agreement) without thinking, and backing out later.
Mistakes experienced candidates make most
- Describing duties instead of results.
- Not knowing their own numbers: targets, volumes, team size.
- Speaking ill of the present employer.
- Being vague about the reason for leaving or about a gap.
- Appearing to know everything and having nothing to learn.
What interviewers remember
Ask people who interview regularly what they remember of good candidates and the answers are plain: he had read about us; she gave real examples; he admitted what he did not know; she listened; he was on time and polite. None of this needs brilliance. It needs preparation and ordinary good manners, both of which are in your control.
The night before: a short check
- Route and time confirmed; alarm set.
- Clothes ready; folder packed.
- "Tell me about yourself" said aloud twice.
- Three stories ready.
- Two questions to ask them.
- Phone charged; early to bed.
To rehearse, open the practice tool and answer five random questions aloud against the timer.
Questions people ask
What is the most common interview mistake?
Giving general answers with no example. Every claim about yourself should come with a fact or a short story.
Is it bad to say "I don't know" in an interview?
No. It is far better than bluffing. Add how you would find out or how you would approach the problem.
Should I ask about salary in the interview?
Let the employer raise it, or keep it for the HR discussion or the offer stage.
More guides
Common questions
Model answers are examples. They show the shape of a good answer, reviewed in November 2026. Use your own facts: an answer copied word for word will not survive a follow-up question. Employers differ, and nothing here promises selection. Names in the examples are invented.