Sometimes or more like every time you go for an interview, your nerves make it hard to concentrate and answer questions to the best of your ability. The important thing to remember is to really listen to the questions being asked. If the interviewer tells you they want a specific example, dont answer with a general how you would do something it is a surefire way to ruin your chances for the job.
These types of questions are known as situational questions. If an interviewer were to say to you, Tell us about your favorite vacation. You wouldnt respond by telling them about all the places you would like to go or make a generalization:
My favorite vacation is to go someplace hot with my family and sit on the beach.
Instead, you should answer as specifically as possible including all the pertinent details:
My favorite vacation was two years ago when I went to California with my family. We spent a lot of time on the beach. It was very relaxing.
The second answer adds credibility. It is obvious that you are providing information from something that actually happened as opposed to making something up just to answer the question.
Potential employers are trying to gauge how you react or perform in specific situations. Common questions that are asked include:
Tell me about a time you led a team project. Include what the project was, how many people, and any challenges including how you overcame them.
Tell me about a conflict you had with a co-worker. Only pick situations that had a positive outcome.
Employers today want to know how you are going to perform on the job before they even hire you. By answering situational questions specifically you can assure the interviewer you have the skills and thought processes that they are looking for.
This may seem obvious, but it happens way too often. No matter the reason, there is no excuse for it (besides an injury or family emergency and then kudos for you for showing up). Getting lost, bad traffic, or losing track of time doesn't matter to an interviewer. They are taking time away from their primary duties to sit down with you to try and give you a job. It is rude and disrespectful to not show up on time.
Here are a few tips to ensure this doesn't happen:
Do a dry run. If you are going to a city or a part of the city you are not familiar with drive there a few days before. Ideally you will do it during a week day at a similar time to your interview time to gauge the amount of time it takes to get there.
Leave early. Not just 15 minutes early, you can plan to arrive 30-60 minutes before your interview time. Dont go into the building though. Get into the area, find a coffee shop and relax while reading the paper or reviewing your resume. Not only will this ensure that you are on time it also gives you time to relax and calm yourself before walking into the building.
Pay for parking. Dont circle the block 12 times looking for cheap parking on the street. Pay the money to park in a parking garage. You do not want to waste
valuable time looking for parking and start to stress yourself at the same time.
If you are running late (but really, you should not be), make sure you call. The interviewer may not have time to complete the interview if you are running late and you will save both of you the time if you let them know. You can try and salvage the faux pas by trying to book another appointment right away. And if you are lucky enough to get a second chance, follow the tips above to arrive not only on time, but early.