10 Things You Should Never, Ever Say in an Interview

10 Things You Should Never, Ever Say in an Interview

As a jobseeker, your goal in an interview is to show that you can think on your feet and possess the right skills and personality to make things happen in your new role. So as you prepare for the interview, it’s important to know what type of comments the hiring manager will consider a red flag. To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of 10 things you should steer clear of saying during your interview:

  1. “Sorry I’m late.”
    Employers look down upon tardiness so make sure to show up for your appointment on time. You should also avoid arriving too early. Ten minutes before your scheduled appointment is acceptable.
  2. “I’m so nervous right now.”
    Although it’s natural to have a little stage fright during an interview, do your best to appear confident. Thoroughly researching the company and the position before the interview may help ease your fears.
  3. “Do you know how long this interview is going to take?”
    Don’t give the impression that you’re in a hurry or have somewhere else to be. This tells the hiring manager that you don’t really want the job.
  4. “So, what does this company do?”
    You must do your research! Make sure you have a solid understanding of what the business and the position you’re interviewing for is all about before showing up to the interview.
  5. “My last boss was so bad.”
    Whatever you do, don’t talk smack about your previous employer. Keep your tone neutral and positive. If you really did have an awful boss before, focus on what you learned from the experience. The same rule applies to old coworkers.
  6. “My greatest weakness is I work too hard.”
    This answer does not impress anyone. In fact, your interviewer has probably heard this before…from applicants they didn’t end up hiring. Instead, think about an area that you want to improve upon and provide some ideas for how you plan to build (or are already building) your skills in that area.
  7. “Let’s talk money.”
    The first interview is not the time to bring up your pay rate. You’ll give the impression that all you care about is the paycheck, and while that may be true, remember that employers are looking for workers who are motivated by more than just cash.
  8. “@#$%!”
    Leave the foul language at home. It comes across as unprofessional.
  9. “Excuse me while I take this call.”
    Silence your phone and leave it tucked away as soon as you enter the building. Better yet, leave it in your car. Whatever you do, don’t answer your phone, send a text, or browse the internet during your interview.
  10. “No, I don’t have any questions.”
    Typically, a hiring manager leaves time at the end of an interview for you to ask questions. Have a few things in mind that you want to ask the interviewer and deliver them confidently.  Make sure you’re not asking a question that’s already been answered earlier in the interview

Posted on March 26, 2015



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