5 Potentially Fatal Job Interview Mistakes…And How to Avoid Them

Job interviews—whether they’re face-to-face or virtual—can feel like stepping into a spotlight, especially for those who may find meeting new people or speaking about themselves a bit daunting. The stakes are high, and the pressure to perform can amplify every nervous tick or misstep. But that’s okay. You’re not alone.

Jitters are part of the game. Nearly 90% of job seekers have said they experience them. We’re here to help. So take a deep breath now, because we have insights from our ECLARO recruiters to help you prepare and avoid some of the biggest interview mistakes candidates make, often without even realizing it.

Interviews aren’t just about rehashing your resume, although that will likely drive a good part of the conversation with a potential employer. The interviewer is also observing how you navigate the moment, getting a sense of you as a person behind the list of professional experiences and skills. It's your chance to showcase yourself and highlight why you are the right person for the job, on multiple levels.

Let’s take a look at five of the biggest mistakes people make in job interviews, and then at some expert advice from ECLARO recruiters on how you can prepare, avoid the errors and traps, and make a great impression in your job quest.

5 Job Interview Mistakes to Avoid in 2025
1. Overloading on Rehearsed Answers
2. Misreading the Interviewer’s Style
3. Not Being Aware of Your Nonverbal Cues
4. Talking Too Much…or Too Little
5. Knowing Nothing About the Company

Overloading on Rehearsed Answers

You want to be prepared, but you also want to be yourself. Memorizing responses might feel like a safety net, but interviewers are not looking for a script. They want to see how you communicate and express yourself, how you think on your feet, how you discuss why your background makes you the best fit for the role, how you bring your soft skills into practice. For those who find the interview process nervewracking, the urge to rely on rehearsed lines can be strong but it can backfire, making you seem disengaged or inauthentic.

How to Help Yourself: Instead of memorizing specific answers to potential questions, prepare talking points. Jot down key experiences or skills you want to highlight and practice weaving them into natural conversation. If you’re nervous about freezing up, try a “pause and pivot” technique: Take a brief moment to collect your thoughts, then connect your answer to the question with a phrase like, “That’s an interesting question—here’s how I’ve approached something similar…”

Misreading the Interviewer’s Style

Every interviewer has a unique style—some are warm and chatty, others formal and direct, some will drive the conversation, some will let you talk first after the customary “Hi, how are you” niceties. There will be interviewers who are quick and to the point and want you to be the same, others who are looking for elaboration. Failing to pick up on these cues can make you seem out of sync in the conversation. For example, launching into a lengthy story when the interviewer clearly prefers concise answers can signal an inability to read a room and a lack of communication skills.

How to Help Yourself: Pay attention to the interviewer’s tone and pace early on. Mirror their energy subtly—if they’re brisk, keep your answers tight; if they’re conversational, let your personality show. A quick way to build rapport is to ask a clarifying question, like, “Is it possible if you can share more about what success looks like in this role?” It shows you’re engaged and gives you a moment to gauge their style.

Not Being Aware of Your Nonverbal Cues

No matter where you are having a conversation in life, you are not just communicating with words—your body language speaks volumes. Slouching, avoiding eye contact or fidgeting can undermine even the strongest answers—employers say poor body language can impact their decisions. Interviewers often interpret such physical actions as signs of discomfort or lack of confidence, even if that’s not your intent.

How to Help Yourself: Practice “open” body language: Sit up straight, shoulders relaxed, hands visible but not gripping the table. If eye contact feels intense, you can try focusing on the bridge of the interviewer’s nose—it’s less daunting but looks the same. Before the interview, try a power pose (stand tall, hands on hips) for two minutes to boost confidence and project calm.

Talking Too Much…or Too Little

Navigating the delicate balance of an interview conversation can feel like a tightrope walk. Talk too much, and you risk sounding unprepared and unable to follow directions, monopolizing the conversation and potentially leaving the interviewer feeling unheard. This can signal a lack of self-awareness and an inability to be a team player.

On the other hand, being too quiet can be equally damaging. Offering short, clipped answers might make you appear uninterested or unengaged, leaving the interviewer with a sense that you lack the confidence or communication skills necessary for the role.

How to Help Yourself: The key is to find the sweet spot: thoughtful, concise answers that demonstrate your qualifications while also leaving room for a natural, two-way dialogue. Some people have found success using the “STAR” method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure answers completely yet concisely.

If you tend to talk too much, practice pausing after key points to check if the interviewer wants to dive deeper. If you’re too quiet, prepare a few questions to ask—it shifts the focus and gives you breathing room.

Knowing Nothing About the Company

Walking into an interview without understanding the company’s goals, challenges or culture is not only a missed opportunity—it could prove to be a fatal error. Hiring managers often share that candidates who fail to connect their skills to the company’s specific needs come across as unprepared or uninterested—especially when the role demands problem-solving or adaptability. Showing that you are good culture fit also matters—and if you don’t know anything about the culture,

How to Help Yourself: Go beyond the company’s website. Check recent press releases, LinkedIn posts from employees or articles about industry trends to understand their current priorities. For example, if the company just launched a new product, mention how your skills could support that initiative. This shows you’ve done your homework and helps you feel more in control, even with an unfamiliar interviewer.

Even if you’ve done your homework, it's also good practice to ask questions about the company and the positions during your interview. That shows that you are genuinely interested in the organization and your potential place within it, yet more than 40% of candidates fail to ask any questions about the role or company.

ECLARO recruiters thrive on connecting the Right People with the right roles and the right companies. And decades of expertise have generated plenty of wisdom and insights that they are happy to share with job seekers everywhere, so stay on the lookout for the next installment of job interview tips to help you stand out from the crowd.

Connect with an ECLARO recruiter today and see how we can help you achieve your career dreams.