What Millennials Should NOT Do During A Job Interview

A Millennial Job Interview

Make eye contact. Sit up straight. Give clear concise answers. These are just a few of the tips we are told to do during a job interview. But what about what not to do? Well, of course, there are a million and one things not to do. Do not chew gum, do not arrive late, do not interrupt the interviewee, just to name a few. While these all may seem quite obvious, some millennials are still missing the mark when it comes to their interviewing etiquette. According to an article by Forbes, Millennials are often misjudged and misunderstood in their job interviews.

A “Typical” Millennial in a Job Interview

Here is the typical notion of how a millennial behaves during a job interview: A Millenial Job Interview 

How far off it is really? While this is obviously a hilarious parody, there may be some subtle truth to these behaviors exemplified in this video. Millennials are known to get a bad rap in the workplace from older generations. This could be due to older generations being unfamiliar with the way and upbringings of the millennial generation. Videos such as these are also not helping the millennials case, and if anything, amplifying the wrong message that millennials are entitled and not hard working. That generalization could have a negative impact on a millennials chances of landing a job, despite how well he or she performed in the job interview. But, it is equally as important for millennials to stand up to these generalizations by proving them to be complete fallacies.

What NOT To Do

Here is a list of what NOT to do during a job interview that may be a little less obvious for Millennials:

• Stop saying “I”: While yes, a job interview is used to talk about your past experiences and skills, but that is not all. A job interview is used to see what attributes and skills you could bring to the company. Make sure you illustrate how you can contribute to the companies success and not just your past accomplishments.
• Not setting goals for your career: Employers want to know you see a future at their company. Millennials are known for jumping from one job to the next, which causes a strain for their company. Make it explicitly clear that you have goals to move up in their company and that you see a future there.
• Not being a team player: Back to the first point. Acknowledge your accomplishments as part of a team effect, and not a solo mission. Employers want to know you can work well with others.

Millennials are an amazing generation, who are eager to make a difference in the workplace. Older generations, with more experience, need to continue to teach and guide this generation, instead of labeling them.