What Not to Say in an Interview

Inappropriate Comments and Responses That Won’t Bring a Job Offer

Jan 9, 2008 Deborah S. Hildebrand

Make sure not to say the wrong thing in the interview and lose out on the job. Here's what not to say in a job interview.

It takes a lot of hard work to look for a new position. Just like the regular eight to five grind, job seekers have to put in long hours sending out resumes, meeting with recruiters and hiring managers, talking about themselves over and over, repeatedly answering questions. It can be exhausting. And it can be stressful.

Job seekers who don’t prepare well in advance might find themselves saying the wrong thing or making inappropriate comments. And even those who do prepare themselves may find that they’ve inadvertently put their foot in their mouth or not fully thought out possible responses in advance.

While no one can anticipate or predict what questions each recruiter is actually going to ask, job seekers can at least cushion themselves against a nasty faux pas by rehearsing traditional responses in advance and understanding what topics to avoid during the job interview.

How to Prepare for the Interview

The best thing that job seekers can do is to really know their job history. That means they need to review what their past experiences and accomplishments have been so that they are able to briefly and concisely present this information as appropriate responses to questions that are asked.

• Avoid rambling on. The better candidates know their own background the better equipped they will be to give simple, easy to follow answers while demonstrating their stellar verbal communication skills.
• Avoid giving ready-made, predictable responses. Yes, interviewers sometimes tend to ask similar questions, such as the old one about strengths and weaknesses. However, try to avoid tried and true, worn out responses like being a workaholic or a perfectionist.
• Avoid using money as the primary reason for leaving a job. This is the worst reason candidates can give for why they are looking for another position because it makes a candidate seem singularly focused and transitory.

How to Connect in the Interview

One of the best ways to do well in the interview is to make a connection with the interviewer. That means finding a common, neutral topic of discussion to ease the tension and be more likeable.

• Avoid controversial subjects. It may seem like a given, but avoid topics like politics and religion. Bringing up the latest news report on the presidential primary is not the way to go. Admiring the pictures of her family is.
• Avoid gossip. Interviewers know that sometimes things don’t work out at prior employers due to problems with the business. However, talking negatively about the last company or anyone there will not score points. Even if the organization is under investigation for some scandal, keep the explanation business like or it may seem like gossip. Job seekers should not air the dirty laundry.
• Avoid being pretentious and a know-it-all. Sometimes in an effort to impress, candidates flaunt their knowledge either about their expertise in a field or what they’ve already learned about the company. Humility is a virtue.

The whole idea behind the interview process is for job seekers to be likeable and put their best foot forward. The first impression really does count, so it is important to learn what not to say in an interview.

The copyright of the article What Not to Say in an Interview in Career Advice is owned by Deborah S. Hildebrand. Permission to republish What Not to Say in an Interview in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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