Interviews can be a cause of anxiety, tough even for pros who have been around the block several times. A large number of people think that having a powerful CV and some achievements will make job interviews a piece of cake. Nevertheless, that is usually not the case. CA Gaurav Kumar, a deft Chartered Accountant and career mentor, clarifies why the seasoned candidates sometimes falter in interviews and what they do to get a better preparation.

The Myth of Experience Guaranteeing Success

Many experienced professionals often assume that their long experience will be enough to get them through any interview. Nevertheless, interviews are not only about what you have done in the past—they are about how you can be a solution to the company’s future problems. Employers are on the lookout for good communication, flexibility, and a match between the company’s culture and objectives.

CA Gaurav Kumar says that experience must go along with preparation. “A lot of candidates just depend on their previous job experiences and are solely focused on their past roles when they walk into the interview. But the interviewers’ expectations are to know your line of thought, your tactics for facing a problem, and whether you are set for the company’s development,” he adds.

Common Reasons Experienced Professionals Get Stuck

Below is a list of factors that not even the best and most skilled professionals can avoid and that may cause them to perform badly in an interview:

1. Overconfidence

Experience, in some cases, can be overconfidence’ mother. A few candidates end up writing off the whole preparation based on past experience; thus, they don’t familiarize themselves with the questions and don’t practice. Generally, the kind of answers they would provide would be ambiguous and unfocused and this would not create a good impression on the interviewer.

2. Skills that have become Outdated

The development of industries is at an astonishing pace especially within the areas of: Finance, technology, and compliance. If candidates have not been actively training their skills then it will be difficult for interviewers to trust them to face the modern challenges.

3. Bad Communication

The fact that you are not able to communicate things clearly even though they are pretty impressive can be a reason for your rejection. Overusing jargon and giving long technical answers can leave the interviewer confused and the reason you want to have an impact is lost.

4. Not Knowing the Company

Interviewers expect from candidates to know the company’s objectives, the problems it faces, and its position in the market. Not having enough information on the issue will make you look indifferent and that you lack the necessary qualities to handle the job.

5. Behavioral Questions Are Difficult for You

Many top-notch professionals answer technical questions without any problem but when it comes to behavioral questions such as, “Tell me about a time you had a conflict at work” they are stuck. The behavioral questions reveal soft skills and leadership qualities, which are important in senior positions.

6. Afraid of Change

Some interviewees, in their effort to be perfect, unintentionally end up portraying themselves as people who are against new technologies, team structures, or processes. Employers want employees who are flexible and comfortable with change rather than those who are reluctant to change.

How to Avoid These Pitfalls

CA Gaurav Kumar lays out several measures that experienced professionals can implement to get noticed at the time of interviews:

• Update Your Skills: Knowing and making use of new ideas, technologies, and industry compliance requirements is very essential. In fact, this indicates that you are not only proactive but also flexible.
• Practice Communication: Practice talking about your achievements in simple and clear words so that even a non-technical person can understand.
• Research Thoroughly: Discover the products, competitors, and challenges of the company so that you can give the right answers.
• Prepare for Behavioral Questions: The STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is useful while organizing convincing answers for interview questions.
• Stay Humble and Open-Minded: A spirit of confidence is good, but being humble and having a desire to learn will give you a better impression.

Final Thoughts

Being unable to answer an interview question properly does not imply that you do not have the skills or the experience. It just infers that you have the potential to enhance your personal presentation. As CA Gaurav Kumar mentions, “An interview is a demonstration of your past journey not only but your future too.” All the seasoned professionals can conquer the difficulties and grab their desired positions if they get ready properly and have the right attitude.