Kerry Sandberg Scott helps us out, once again, with tips for how to do well in an interview. Remember this word: STAR. STAR stands for Situation/Task/Action you Took/Result You Achieved; it’s how you should answer all interview questions.
That being said, there are four common interview mistakes Scott commonly sees… These are things to avoid:
- “Not listening to the question” — Employers understand that people get nervous during interviews, but they’re testing your listening abilities. So pay attention, stay focused, and answer the question they ask you.
- “Giving hypothetical answers” — They want to know what you’ve done in the past. Give an example of a real experience you had, instead of answering what you would do in the future. If you don’t have a prior experience, just tell them the truth instead of covering it up with a hypothetical.
- “Giving disorganized answers” — Remember the STAR method. Give a detailed answer where you describe the situation fully but succinctly, what action you took, and what results came of it.
- “Giving bad results” — Nerves can cause you to ramble. And often times your blabbering will lead to telling the hiring manager about a bad result that came about from something you did. Instead, take a moment to gather your thoughts before answering.