You don't appear enthusiastic
Once when I was taking an interview I realized that I had done a strange thing. As the executive I was talking to described his company's plans for marketing a new product, I said, "Well, the first thing we might do, is ..." The strange thing was that I was so wrapped up in my prospective boss's business problems that I suggested what we might do even though i was not a member of the firm. Afterward it struck me how enthusiastic I must have sounded. I resolved, from that point forth, to use the word "we" when referring to a prospective boss's problems that might become my own.
Given a choice between a person who is exceptionally bright but not particularly enthusiastic over the job I have to offer, and an individual almost as bright but tremendously excited about my company and the job opportunity, I'd be inclined to take the second person. Why? Because I know he'd give the job his utmost, while I'm less sure about the first candidate. If you are inherently enthusiastic, you've got a lot going for you. However, if enthusiasm is not your middle name, then you ought to do something about it. Not to change yourself, mind you, but to make your lack of physical enthusiasm less obvious. And, as I said before, it's simple. For five minutes, promise yourself to look bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, to reflect enthusiasm, to comment positively on what your prospective boss may be talking about. To use the word "we" when you have a chance. To be encouraged about the potential opportunity. Even if you're not sold on every last element of your prospective boss's plans, try not to sound skeptical. When you get the job, you will have a chance to change the elements that concern you. But if you make a big deal about the things that you don't enthusiastically endorse, you may never get an opportunity on the job to make the changes you'd like to make.
You overwhelm your prospective boss
A number of years ago when I was in brand management with a large firm, I interviewed a young man for a job in my department. He literally bounded into my office. He could barely restrain himself while I described the job to him. When he was given the chance to talk, he took off like a Boeing 747. His exploits were perilous. His solutions were a match for those of Jack Armstrong, all-American boy. He reminded me more of a high-school cheerleader than a businessman. I wondered how well he would fit into our group. How well he'd listen at meetings. How much of a team person he would be. All in all, he struck me so much as a junior superstar that I was afraid to hire him in case he overwhelmed the people with whom he'd be working. If you tend to overwhelm, five minutes before your next interview promise yourself that you will be a little more diffident, sell yourself a little less aggressively, listen a little more, and promote your cause with just a little less bravado.
You appear anxious, nervous
Anybody who isn't nervous at a job interview probably hasn't any brains at all. After all, you don't know the person you are about to meet.
You only know that in the balance lies your opportunity to get a better job. The problem is that if you appear overly nervous, your prospective employer may look on a calmer candidate as fitting in better with his organization. If you appear ill at ease, smoke cigarette after cigarette, tap your fingers on the desk or chair, play with a key chain, or show any other nervous sign, tell yourself to hide it in the next interview. Rest your hands on the arms of the chair firmly. Resolve to do without a cigarette until after the interview. Tell yourself: "You are ahead of the eighteen other people competing for this job because you know how to go after a better job in a professional way. You should be confident because you can and will get the job you want." In a word, five minutes before your next interview, tell yourself you know more about job-seeking than any of the candidates you compete with. And give them hell.
You appear over-relaxed, flip, or nonchalant
If you have a couple of job offers in the bag, you may tend to be pretty relaxed about interviews. You may come across so relaxed that you blow the one opportunity you want most. Whatever the reason, if you project as being too relaxed (to the point that you seem not to care), tell yourself five minutes before your next interview that your other job offers fell through and you've lost your current job to boot. With that to shock you, chances are you'll appear genuinely interested. And your prospective employer is more likely to be interested in you.
You talk too much, too little, too loudly, or too softly
Back in school I had to take a course in public speaking in which each of us gave a recorded speech. Afterward we listened to ourselves. One thing was obvious to me during that playback session. I spoke too fast. Even today, if I am not thinking about it, I speak too fast. Most of us don't notice our speech patterns unless we hear ourselves on a tape recorder. But a friend or business associate might. So ask one how you come across when you speak. Once you know if you have a speech weakness, remind yourself of it before your next interview. It should largely correct itself. While you're considering your speaking habit, you might also want to consider your propensity to dominate the conversation. Some people talk too much, others not enough. Once you know which side you err on, plan to do the opposite. You'll probably end up talking just the right amount.
This list of weaknesses is not meant to be all-encompassing, just to bring to mind the most common personality faults that I've bumped into. You may learn that yours are unusual as you run through practice interviews with friends and business associates. The important thing to remember is that, once you know your weaknesses, they can be corrected to a large degree by simply thinking about them. If you have several weaknesses, you might want to jot down a key word or two for each. There is no doubt that you could put all your weaknesses on a very small scrap of paper. Look at it in the reception room. Whatever you do, don't go to any lengths to change yourself. If you just note your weaknesses, they will change themselves for the better. And you'll be yourself-your best self.
