How to Avoid Mistakes During Job Interviews

I’ve been a hiring manager for +10 years. I've sat in 100's of interviews. Here are 10 'Off Limits' topics that I've seen cost candidates the job ↓ To be more specific - getting into these discussions would likely result in the hiring team moving to the next candidate (based on my own experience). And before you ask, No. There isn’t a good reason for these to come up in an interview, but yet... Each of them has.   Let's dive in:   1. Talking Poorly About Your Spouse or Partner ↳ Maybe not what you expected at the top of this list, but this says a lot about your character, and how you treat the people close to you. 2. Complaining About Past Managers or Co-workers ↳ It signals bitterness, lack of professionalism, or inability to resolve conflict constructively. 3. Politics or Polarizing Opinions ↳ Even if the interviewer agrees with you, it introduces unnecessary risk and discomfort into the conversation. 4. Personal Drama or Life Struggles ↳ Oversharing about divorces, financial troubles, or health issues can shift focus away from your professional capabilities. 5. Lack of Interest in the Role or Company ↳ Saying things like “I’m applying everywhere” or “I just need a job” kills momentum fast. 6. Consistently Blaming Others – Victim Mentality ↳ Take ownership. Take responsibility. Focus on what you can control and influence. 7. Inappropriate Humor at Others' Expense ↳ Making inappropriate jokes or creating humor that puts others down is never the right call in an interview. 8. Sharing Proprietary or Confidential Information ↳ Instantly shows a lack of awareness. Sharing this info creates all kinds of problems. 9. Exaggerating or Lying ↳ If you get caught bluffing (even subtly), credibility is lost, trust is gone. Would be hard to recover from this. 10. Not comfortable discussing failures or mistakes ↳ Failure is part of life. It's part of professional growth. Openly and authentically discussing past mistakes signals a lot about character and maturity. Do your best to avoid the temptation of walking into these topics. Yes - interviews are discussions, but not with your friends or family. Keep it professional. Always be respectful. Your character is on display the entire time. What would you add to my list?

You didn’t bomb the interview. But you didn’t win it either. And that $200K+ offer quietly slipped away. Here’s what even smart, capable leaders don’t realize: Interviews aren’t just conversations. They’re business negotiations. And after helping 100s of professionals land 6-figure roles, I’ve seen the same 5 mistakes derail even the most promising candidates: 1. Showing up unprepared → The interviewer’s LinkedIn is public. → Spend 3 minutes and find one real connection. → It shows respect, and makes you memorable. 2. Asking entry-level questions → “What’s the culture like?” won’t cut it. → Ask: “What are the biggest challenges your team is focused on solving this quarter?” → It positions you as a strategic partner. 3. Rambling without structure → Use the STAR method. → Keep it to 90 seconds. → Communicate like an exec. Be concise and clear. 4. Talking money too soon → Getting in the weeds in the first round? → It weakens your leverage. → Wait until they’re invested. 5. Sending generic follow-ups → Skip the templated thank-you. → Share a relevant insight or market POV. → Make them see you as the one they need. Your competition isn’t more qualified. But they might be more strategic. Asking smarter questions. Prepping like consultants. Follow up like advisors. You’re already good. With the right approach, you’ll be unstoppable. What’s the hardest part of interview prep for you? Reshare ♻️ to help someone in your network. And give me a follow for more posts like this.

I led an organization that helped >1,000 people get jobs. Here are the 12 most common interview mistakes I saw and how to avoid them: The research supports this too - studies by CareerBuilder and Twin Employment highlighted four of these mistakes as the reasons candidates failed interviews. Don’t let bad preparation stop you from getting the job of your dreams. Here are 12 common interview mistakes and how to avoid them: 1/ Arriving Late ↳ This is obvious but people still get it wrong. First impressions REALLY count. Arrive 10-15 minutes early. Plan for delays.  ↳ For virtual interviews, pre-install the software, test your mic and video. 2/ Not Researching the Company ↳ Use the company’s website, recent news articles and their product/services to get smart on them. ↳ Talk to people who have worked there to understand the culture. Reach out to them on Linkedin. ↳ Use this to prepare your responses and questions. 3/ Being Unprepared for Common Questions ↳ Practice your answers to common interview questions out loud. ↳ Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses to behavioral questions. 4/ Talking Too Much or Too Little ↳ Aim for concise, relevant answers that are about 2-3 minutes long. Don't forget to breathe. ↳ Practice with a friend or in front of a mirror to get feedback. 5/ Not Providing Specific Examples ↳ Have a list of specific stories you can use. Think about what qualities they show. Use the STAR method to give examples from your experiences. ↳ Use numbers to quantify your impact. 6/ Coming Across as Arrogant ↳ I’ve made this mistake myself. Confidence is key but arrogance is usually off-putting, especially when you are not an expert. ↳ Talk with humility about your achievements. 7/ Not Appearing Enthusiastic ↳ Even if you’re nervous, try and show enthusiasm by smiling, making eye contact, and asking lots of thoughtful questions. Curiosity = enthusiastic. ↳ Share specifically what excites you about the company/role. 8/ Speaking Negatively About Past Employers ↳ If asked about past jobs, talk about what you learned or how you grew from the experience. ↳ Keep your tone positive. 9/ Not Asking Questions ↳ Prepare a list of thoughtful questions about the role, team, and company culture. ↳ This shows your enthusiasm and curiosity! 10/ Not Connecting the Role To Your Career Goals ↳ Be ready to explain why you’re excited about the job and how it fits in with your long-term plans. 11/ Bad Body Language ↳ Sit up straight, make eye contact, and use confident, open gestures. 12/ Using Too Much Jargon Each interview is an opportunity to showcase your brilliance! Make each one count! — ♻️ Repost this to help your network become top performers. 📌 Want a high-resolution PDF of this? 1. Just follow me Will McTighe 2. Sign up for my free Level Up Community at lnkd.in/gKzZUq-b