Interview mistakes to avoid in business development. Read about the top 5 common interview mistakes that business developers make.
Remember your first job interview?
You waited impatiently for days if not weeks to discuss a life-changing career opportunity. Then you got an email from the recruiter stating that you’re selected for the next round.
Business developers strive to achieve good results with their work. In their early career days, they start with internships and continue with full-time roles to grow as professionals. Their career trajectory comes with multiple challenges that they work hard to overcome.
Most business developers prepare in advance for their job interviews. They update their CV, dress appropriately, ensure they research the company beforehand, and try to be their best selves during the interview process.
On the other hand, there are other business development professionals who make certain interview mistakes that can hinder their chance to secure their next dream job.
In this article, we’ve picked five main interview mistakes that you should avoid making as a business developer!
And if you want to be extra prepared, you can download a pdf with 18 mistakes to avoid with explanations and tips to secure your next interview round.
Interview mistake #1: Lack of research
One of the most common interview mistakes is not doing enough research about the company and the role you applied for. Employers look for talent and potential. But they also want to see your commitment to the values and vision of the company.
If you don’t do research beforehand, it shows your lack of interest in the position. You want to make sure that you research the company.
Check out the website and social media profiles, and do a Google search. Then read the job description in detail. The point is to learn about the company and how your work experience can contribute to its future success. Try to gather information about company products and services, relevant people like the CEO, their market, and so on.
When an employer interviews you, they want to know that you’re knowledgeable about the company. The more you know about the company, the more tailored your responses will be. You’ll identify company problems and create strategic plans about how you can solve them.
Interview mistake #2: Doing the interview in a noisy place
The second mistake you should avoid during an interview is doing the interview in a noisy place. It can be disappointing for an employer to have to listen to the noise around you throughout your conversation.
It makes the interview process more difficult and it’s unprofessional. Your answers may be good, but it’s not useful when the person on the other side can’t hear them.
So, it’s essential to choose a quiet place for your interview meeting. Try to avoid any potential distractions so that the interview goes smoothly. Choose the right background that doesn’t distract you or the employer.
Remember that your job interview is your first impression, so make sure you choose a nice place. Further, ensure that there won’t be friends or family members interrupting your interview.
There may be moments of awkward silence during the interview. But, you can use this wisely and to your advantage. And this is better than having the recruiter speak over the noise.
Interview mistake #3: Checking your phone
The third interview mistake you should avoid is checking your phone. For best results, keep your phone tucked away while the interview is going on. Your phone can be distracting in many ways.
You may get a notification and start looking at the screen while your potential employer is asking you questions. Or someone might call you and this can be really distracting for both parties.
What you should do in this case is to switch off your phone completely. Keep it in a distant place while the interview is going on so that you remain focused. Now, I wouldn’t recommend using your phone for the interview. It can look unprofessional and it’s best that you use your laptop for the process if you have a video call.
Your attention and focus should be on the interview. You need to ensure that you understand the questions and use the available time to come up with smart and adequate answers.
Interview mistake #4: Lack of enthusiasm
In reality, many business developers lack enthusiasm during an interview. This sends the wrong signal to the recruiter. Employers don’t like it when employees aren’t eager to learn more about their future roles and the company they’re going to work for.
What you need to do instead is to be enthusiastic about the whole process. You should ask questions and practice active listening. Be open in your communication style and use the opportunity to demonstrate how passionate you are about the role.
Think about it: If you’re enthusiastic about the work you have to do, you’re more likely to invest a lot of time and energy into it. And employers value that. They want to have enthusiastic people working for their businesses.
Enthusiasm will help you come up with new strategies and methods that you can use in your daily work. And team members will like working with you. You’ll be a positive influence to be around. Employers pay close attention to these aspects as well.
Interview mistake #5: Oversharing information about your personal life
One of the aims of a job interview is to find out your potential place within the company and the team. Personal life details are important, but they shouldn’t take up the majority of your conversation. This doesn’t mean that you should stress yourself out. But, it’s an important tip to keep in mind.
Many business developers make this mistake because they’re nervous or stressed. They think that the more they share, the better they’ll come across. In reality, this isn’t the case.
Recruiters want to find out more about you as a person but mainly as a professional. They want to learn about your strengths, weaknesses, and ability to do your job.
This doesn’t mean that you should avoid talking about your personal life altogether. For example, when asked, you can mention your hobbies and interests. This will complement your future role. By using your personal experiences and the lessons you’ve learned, you show that you’re up for any challenge and can solve problems. And your employer gets to know you from both a personal and professional side.
Do you want to ace your next business development job interview?
Download the pdf with 18 interview mistakes to avoid during the interview!
Interview mistakes to avoid in business development. Read about the top 5 common interview mistakes that business developers make.
Remember your first job interview?
You waited impatiently for days if not weeks to discuss a life-changing career opportunity. Then you got an email from the recruiter stating that you’re selected for the next round.
Business developers strive to achieve good results with their work. In their early career days, they start with internships and continue with full-time roles to grow as professionals. Their career trajectory comes with multiple challenges that they work hard to overcome.
Most business developers prepare in advance for their job interviews. They update their CV, dress appropriately, ensure they research the company beforehand, and try to be their best selves during the interview process.
On the other hand, there are other business development professionals who make certain interview mistakes that can hinder their chance to secure their next dream job.
In this article, we’ve picked five main interview mistakes that you should avoid making as a business developer!
And if you want to be extra prepared, you can download a pdf with 18 mistakes to avoid with explanations and tips to secure your next interview round.
Interview mistake #1: Lack of research
One of the most common interview mistakes is not doing enough research about the company and the role you applied for. Employers look for talent and potential. But they also want to see your commitment to the values and vision of the company.
If you don’t do research beforehand, it shows your lack of interest in the position. You want to make sure that you research the company.
Check out the website and social media profiles, and do a Google search. Then read the job description in detail. The point is to learn about the company and how your work experience can contribute to its future success. Try to gather information about company products and services, relevant people like the CEO, their market, and so on.
When an employer interviews you, they want to know that you’re knowledgeable about the company. The more you know about the company, the more tailored your responses will be. You’ll identify company problems and create strategic plans about how you can solve them.
Interview mistake #2: Doing the interview in a noisy place
The second mistake you should avoid during an interview is doing the interview in a noisy place. It can be disappointing for an employer to have to listen to the noise around you throughout your conversation.
It makes the interview process more difficult and it’s unprofessional. Your answers may be good, but it’s not useful when the person on the other side can’t hear them.
So, it’s essential to choose a quiet place for your interview meeting. Try to avoid any potential distractions so that the interview goes smoothly. Choose the right background that doesn’t distract you or the employer.
Remember that your job interview is your first impression, so make sure you choose a nice place. Further, ensure that there won’t be friends or family members interrupting your interview.
There may be moments of awkward silence during the interview. But, you can use this wisely and to your advantage. And this is better than having the recruiter speak over the noise.
Interview mistake #3: Checking your phone
The third interview mistake you should avoid is checking your phone. For best results, keep your phone tucked away while the interview is going on. Your phone can be distracting in many ways.
You may get a notification and start looking at the screen while your potential employer is asking you questions. Or someone might call you and this can be really distracting for both parties.
What you should do in this case is to switch off your phone completely. Keep it in a distant place while the interview is going on so that you remain focused. Now, I wouldn’t recommend using your phone for the interview. It can look unprofessional and it’s best that you use your laptop for the process if you have a video call.
Your attention and focus should be on the interview. You need to ensure that you understand the questions and use the available time to come up with smart and adequate answers.
Interview mistake #4: Lack of enthusiasm
In reality, many business developers lack enthusiasm during an interview. This sends the wrong signal to the recruiter. Employers don’t like it when employees aren’t eager to learn more about their future roles and the company they’re going to work for.
What you need to do instead is to be enthusiastic about the whole process. You should ask questions and practice active listening. Be open in your communication style and use the opportunity to demonstrate how passionate you are about the role.
Think about it: If you’re enthusiastic about the work you have to do, you’re more likely to invest a lot of time and energy into it. And employers value that. They want to have enthusiastic people working for their businesses.
Enthusiasm will help you come up with new strategies and methods that you can use in your daily work. And team members will like working with you. You’ll be a positive influence to be around. Employers pay close attention to these aspects as well.
Interview mistake #5: Oversharing information about your personal life
One of the aims of a job interview is to find out your potential place within the company and the team. Personal life details are important, but they shouldn’t take up the majority of your conversation. This doesn’t mean that you should stress yourself out. But, it’s an important tip to keep in mind.
Many business developers make this mistake because they’re nervous or stressed. They think that the more they share, the better they’ll come across. In reality, this isn’t the case.
Recruiters want to find out more about you as a person but mainly as a professional. They want to learn about your strengths, weaknesses, and ability to do your job.
This doesn’t mean that you should avoid talking about your personal life altogether. For example, when asked, you can mention your hobbies and interests. This will complement your future role. By using your personal experiences and the lessons you’ve learned, you show that you’re up for any challenge and can solve problems. And your employer gets to know you from both a personal and professional side.
Do you want to ace your next business development job interview?
Download the pdf with 18 interview mistakes to avoid during the interview!
