6 most common interview mistakes to avoid

3. BRINGING UP COMPENSATION OR WORK SCHEDULES TOO EARLY. Wait for signs that the organization wants you before broaching how much it’s willing to pay or whether it offers flextime or

telecommuting options. Ask too soon and you may end up lowballing yourself or giving the impression you want special scheduling privileges and don’t want to be a team player in the office.

4. FOCUSING TOO MUCH ON WHAT YOU WOULD GET OUT OF THE JOB. This is one of the biggest errors you can make, so steer the conversation not toward what the employer can do for you, but what you

can do for the employer. If and when you have an offer, you can shift your focus to getting some specifics on your personal situation. The best way to sidestep this blunder is to keep your

attention concentrated on your interviewer and the reality that you’re sitting in that chair to sell solutions to the company’s problems or challenges. Listen closely to what he or she is

saying. Generally speaking, employers are looking for certain characteristics in you as a candidate that will make the workplace run more productively. They want to glean your enthusiasm and

your curiosity to learn new things. One stereotype older workers must push back against is that they are set in their ways. Ask questions about the company and its services, products,

customers and competition. Be sure these aren’t generic questions that are easily answered by a look at the company’s website. Ask things that demonstrate you have done your sleuthing and

are digging deeper. Be sure to mention any new certificates or technology skills that you’ve added. Creativity is a big seller, too. Talk about a specific way you innovatively solved a

problem or met a challenge for a previous employer. Grit is another core trait that’s in demand. Interviewers want to see a whatever-it-takes attitude. Be prepared to discuss situations at

work or in your personal life when you faced adversity or experienced a setback and overcame it. 5. NOT BEING ENGAGING ENOUGH. Calm down. When you’re tense, you can come off as being stiff

and standoffish. There is an easy fix: Take a breath, relax and make eye contact with your interviewer. Get in the spirit of the game. Keep the interview volleying back and forth at a steady

pace. Leaning slightly forward can signal that you’re interested. Smile and laugh (though not too hard!) when it’s appropriate. That instantly creates an atmosphere of engagement and breaks

the inner tension for you — and your interviewer, too.