TWO HUGE INTERVIEW MISTAKES (BEFORE THE INTERVIEW EVEN STARTS)

​We’ve discussed at length in this blog the many mistakes that job seekers can commit during the face-to-face interview. The mistakes we’re addressing in this post, though, are those that are committed before the interview even takes place.
So before we get too far, let’s identify those two mistakes:
Cancelling the face-to-face interview
Not showing up for the face-to-face interview
Now let’s address these two mistakes individually:
#1—Cancelling the interview
What we’re talking about here is cancelling at the very last minute (or last second, if you prefer). Of course, there are instances in which this is appropriate. For example, perhaps you were involved in an automobile accident and there was no way that you’d be able to make it to the interview in time. However, there are other instances in which it is not acceptable, including the following:
Another, more appealing employment opportunity becomes available.
You’ve lost interest in the position, for whatever reason.
You get “cold feet.”
People at the company at which you were about to interview structured their day around your interview. Cancelling the day of the interview or cancelling at the last minute isn’t going to leave them with a very good taste in their collective mouths. This is especially the case if you have NOT been in an automobile accident or experiencing some other kind of emergency situation.
#2—Not showing up for the interview (without cancelling)
As bad as #1 was, #2 is even worse. That’s because you didn’t call ahead to cancel the interview, even if it was just a few minutes before it was scheduled to begin. You didn’t show up at all.
So in this scenario, what’s going to happen? What are company officials going to think? Well, what do people usually think when they don’t have all of the information? (Or in this case, any of the information?) They’re going to gravitate to the worst-case scenario. Specifically, they’re going to think that you’re one of the following or a combination thereof:
Lazy
Inconsiderate
Unprofessional
Cowardly
Uncaring
None of those adjectives is particularly flattering. You’ve basically made the worst impression that you could possibly make. At least if you had shown up for the interview, you would have proven yourself dependable. And even cancelling at the last minute, while certainly not a saving grace, is better than committing this mistake.
The rule for this situation is pretty straightforward: if you have an onsite interview scheduled, then show up for that interview!
Yes, maybe another, more appealing job has become available. Sure, perhaps you have “cold feet” or you figure that you’re not going to get the job, anyway, why show up at all?
You show up because you have made a commitment to show up. By not honoring that commitment, you’re in danger of “burning bridges.” And if you’re working with a staffing agency, then that staffing agency looks bad, too. As a result, is that agency going to be eager to work with you again? You probably already know the answer to that question.
Avoid these two huge interview mistakes. Keep your commitment and show up for the interview.