3 Myths about Job Interviews You Should Steer Clear from

Today, we are going to expose three (3) common misconceptions that may be hurting your job search and offers right now. I’ll also be sharing the best practices you should be following instead of these false beliefs, so make sure you pay attention.

Let’s go!

1. What I speak during the interview is the only thing that matters

Many people believe that what they say during the interview is the only thing that will impact the interview outcome. And they mistakenly believe that as long as they say the right things, they will pass. But in fact, there is so much more that is involved when it comes to convincing the employer.

You may have heard this before, but according to well-known research, verbal communication accounts for only 7% of how meaning is conveyed. 38% of meaning is conveyed through our tone of voice and the rest, 55%, through our body language. Now, I don’t know how accurate these numbers are and why it’s 7% and not 8%. But one thing that is sure is that our non-verbal communication accounts for much more than the words we speak.

One thing we have to always keep in mind is that interviewers will remember how you made them feel much more than what you said to them. There is simply no way interviewers can remember every single conversation or question that they asked and the exact response from each and every candidate. Rather, what they will remember is how they felt about you and their impression of you during the meeting.

This means how you come across to the interviewer - through the amount of energy you exude, your enthusiasm, eye contact, and level of confidence – all these things will have significantly more impact on the results.

Obviously, I’m not saying that the content of your conversation doesn’t matter. Your knowledge, expertise, and skills are must-haves. But unless they are communicated in a clear and convincing manner, the interviewer will not have the confidence in you to pull the trigger at the end of the day.

If you want to improve the way you communicate, I have a super useful and simple tip for you. What you got to do is to record yourself on video as you speak. Pick any topic and speak about it for around 5 minutes (and it can’t be something you memorized or read off of a script – You need to improvise and just start talking). And then this is how you assess your communication skills. I actually learned this part from a communication expert called Vinh Giang – you can find him online and he has some amazing content. As you review the video you recorded of yourself, first watch it with the sound turned off – no sound. This will allow you to focus on your body language such as your hand gesture, eye contact, and movement – basically, what you look like to everyone around you when you talk. And then the 2^nd time, play it without looking at the screen. This time, you’re only listening to the audio, so you can pay attention to your tone, energy, filler words, pauses, level of confidence, etc.

This is the first step in recognizing and improving your ability to communicate and express yourself powerfully during interviews and, in fact, any important meeting.

2. If I tell the employer I like them, they will think I’m too desperate.

Another myth many people believe in is that they should not express their interest in the role for fear that they will come across as desperate. So instead, they communicate things like, "I'm just trying to see what's available in the market.", and “I’m just exploring.”  But THAT is a terrible idea.

During the interview stage, if the employer feels that you're not interested in their role, it will only create doubt in their mind about your candidacy. Because no employer, no hiring manager wants to ever hire someone who they believe is not genuinely keen on their position (for the fear that you will not be happy in the job, or you will end up leaving soon).

Instead, if you're interviewing for a role that you genuinely want to pursue, make sure you communicate your interest clearly and that the interviewer and hiring manager are aware of your keenness and commitment. This will only solidify their assurance in you and make them like you more.

You have to recognize that one of the biggest fears of a hiring manager is employing the wrong person who will not be happy in the job and, as a result, not be committed to the role and/or end up leaving soon. And the cost of making a wrong hire is often much more expensive than not hiring at all.

In fact, lack of motivation (or the employer's perception of lack of motivation) is probably the most common reason an otherwise qualified candidate is rejected. Throughout my recruitment career, I witnessed so many qualified candidates whom even the employer agrees are a fit for the job, in the end, not getting the offer because the employer was not convinced, they genuinely wanted to join their team. You see, once the motivation is in doubt, the employer will almost every time choose not to hire.

3. I should ask questions only at the end of the meeting.

This is another extremely common misconception. And it’s understandable because we’ve become so used to asking questions only at the end of the meeting. But this is NOT what you want to do. Let me explain.

You see, If we wait until the end of the meeting, we will simply not have sufficient time to discuss the topics of your interest.

When the interviewer asks you if you have any questions, it’s only when they feel they are done and they are ready to pack up. They are not expecting nor do they want to get into a long discussion about a new subject. Therefore, if you ask questions that may require in-depth answers, they will either only give you shallow responses, or you may put the interviewer in an awkward position.

Instead, ask your questions throughout the interview. The interview style that is most conducive to rapport building is a conversational one where questions flow both ways. Remember, as much as the employer is interviewing you, you are also interviewing them because you are the one who will decide if you want to be a part of an organization at the end of the day.

Not only that, by asking strategic questions you’ve prepared beforehand, you can also influence the discussion and lead it to where you want it to go. Of course, you don’t want to take over the entire meeting, but don’t be afraid to have a two-way conversation instead of leaving your questions only until the end.