One of the biggest mistakes tends to occur before the actual interview. Sounds strange, but one of the main reasons new grads are not successful in job interviews is they do not have a clear idea of why they want the job, or how it is a good match for their skills.
College students often spend limited time researching viable career paths to match their interests, abilities, and values. Imagine preparing for a marathon: after months of training, you show up the day of the run, get 10 feet from the end and realize you are running in the wrong marathon. In the race to obtain a college degree, students often rush to be done without taking the time to determine what happens after they cross the finish line. If you can’t answer questions such as, “Why did you select your major?” and “What do you hope to do with your degree?” don’t be surprised if your finish line looks more like the starting line. After graduation is not the time to begin figuring out what career you may want.
New graduates, like anyone in their careers, will face uncertainty and doubt. Take time before graduation and your first job interview to use the resources and opportunities that exist, such as, college career centers, internships, job shadowing, libraries, professional organizations, and mentoring programs. If you don’t know what you are looking for, you will not find it, and the race will seem endless.