Are you blowing the interview before it starts -

Are you blowing the interview before it starts - Finally, its happenedâ€"an invitation to interview for a job. Have you already blown your chance before you put one hand on their offices door? You may be surprised to learn that the way you respond to the initial inquiry sets the tone and influences employers impressions before youve even met. Are you sabotaging your interview before you start? If any of these points sound familiar, you may now know why you didnt get the job: You didnt follow instructions. You receive an email or a phone call inviting you to interview for a job, along with a series of steps to take to schedule an interview. Are you sure you always read and follow those directions? Youre slow to respond. If you include an email address on your resume, employers assume it is a good way to reach you. (Most, if not all, will expect to be able to contact you electronically.) You dont seem flexible. An employer calls on the phone to schedule a time to meet, and your response to every suggestion is no. Even though the organization may not cancel your chances entirely at this point (it may be required by law to follow through with an interview), you will have a difficult reputation to overcome when you meet in person. You use bad judgment about when to answer your phone. We all have mobile phones, but that doesnt mean we need to answer them every time they ring. If an unfamiliar number pops up on your phone when youre struggling with traffic or in a loud environment, dont answer it. You over share. Youve been waiting forever to hear from this employer, and youre so nervous when they ask to schedule an interview, you cant stop talking. It may be charming if you express excitement about the opportunity to interview, but youll start to lose points quickly if you transition into a complaint about how long it took them to get back to you. You miss key details. Just because you live in Boston and the job is in Miami, dont assume the interview will be over the phone. In fact, a good rule of thumb is to not assume anything when an employer contacts you. Dont schedule anything before you consult your calendar. If youre currently working, make a point to review your work and coverage schedule to be sure you arent getting yourself into a bind in your job. First impressions lastâ€"make sure your target employers first impressions of you are positive so you wont have any ground to make up when you actually interview for the job and youll give yourself the best chance possible to win the position. Read the whole post on U.S. News World Report. photo by marc falardeau