As a panel member, having been part of several oral forums and working with hundreds of officers to improve their interview performance, I have found that there are distinct commonalities that, individually or collectively, can detract from your performance. qualified. Take a look at the following list and let it serve as “what not to doduring your oral interview. Your goal is to score as high as possible, but what good is it if you take two steps forward and then make common mistakes that force you to take two steps back, or worse… three steps back? Half the battle after earning points in an interview is knowing not to lose them.

1. Lacks energy, interest, or personality; he is physically robotic.

2. The interest in the promotion is for the wrong reasons (just money, change everything, show others how to do it right, etc.)

3. Offers criticism of existing organizational leadership or the competition.

4. Maintains unusual or inappropriate facial expressions (rolling eyes, opening mouth, not meeting eyes, grinding teeth, etc.)

5. Provides a loose, weak and wet handshake; a sweat-soaked palm; a crushing nut-squeezing handshake; or a half-handed handshake.

6. Demonstrates uncertainty; inability to make a decision or commitment; or cannot assume the role being evaluated.

7. Give one-sentence or one-word answers (topical, cosmetic, no depth).

8. There is no prepared opening statement or closing statement that consists solely of “Thank you for your time.”

9. Having a deadpan stone face that never smiles or smiles for no apparent reason throughout the entire interview.

10. Dodging the question or providing information that does not answer or is not related to the question.

11. Arrogant, overly aggressive, cocky with a cocky attitude.

12. Inability to communicate clearly: Monotonous; bad diction; bad enunciation; volume too high or too low; verbal pace too fast or too slow.

13. Lack of confidence, composition or balance; He is physically and verbally too nervous.

14. Shows no interest in work-related activities, volunteering, committees, professional associations, training, schooling, clubs, or projects.

15. Overestimates the power and authority of the position for which you are trying out.

16. Makes excuses, rationalizes, or fails to account for unfavorable issues.

17. Lacks flexibility; inability to adapt to a changing scenario.

18. Lack of courtesy, humility and respect: it is rude.

19. Shows inability to assume or understand the role of the position you are seeking.

20. You have an inability to comment decisively on issues of ethics, leadership, or community.