Avoid oversharing during your next interview
Are you wondering why you didn’t get a call back for a second interview? Maybe you “overshared.” Here’s how to strike the right balance.
1. Always let the interviewer set the tone
Pay attention to their body language and tone and let them take the lead.
2. Keep it light
Limit yourself to small talk only. Try picturing yourself at a formal event or in public, meeting a new person, to help you set your limits.
3. Look for commonalities
Look around the office for similarities between you and your interviewer. Did you go to the same university? Or do you like the same sports team? Finding common ground is an excellent way to make a connection with your interviewer without getting too personal.
4. Don’t forget where you are
Always be cognizant of where you are! You’re in an interview so the information you share is not confidential. Don’t share anything that you wouldn’t want to be repeated.
5. Stay professional – even when it’s difficult
Never speak ill of your current employer even if you’re miserable. Always try to stay professional and offer practical reasons as to why you’re looking for a new position.
6. Personal isn’t professional
When asked to talk about your failures, don’t share personal shortcomings. Keep it professional.
7. Steer the conversation
Keep an eye out for potentially illegal questions. Interviewers are not allowed to ask questions about your race, ethnicity, age, plans for future children, marital status, arrests, drinking habits, or disabilities. If an interviewer asks you a potentially illegal question, find a way to steer the conversation in a different direction politely.
8. Keep your phone stored away
It’s tempting to want to share bits of your life, like pictures, with an interviewer, but keep the pet and kid pictures at bay! Your interviewer is interested in your skills and experience, not your cat.
9. Practice makes perfect
If you’re nervous about an upcoming interview, practice! It’s easy to overshare when you’re on edge. So, prepare yourself for that next big interview by practicing with a friend or even in the mirror.
Staffing Service USA, located in York, Lancaster, and Harrisburg, can help you find your next position today! Contact us for more information.