7 Things Candidates should not say during an Interview
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02/02/2021
Being invited for an interview for a job you desperately are wanting is extremely exciting and sometimes that excitement and nervousness can cause you to discuss topics that you probably should keep to yourself when in a professional interview. The nerves surrounding the stress of an interview can cause you to reveal your doubts about yourself, about the position, or about the employer. The interviewer most likely is not interested in your personal life nor when you are getting married nor your travelling plans. What they want to know is if you are the best person for the job.
During an interview, what you say and how you say it is imperative to helping the interviewer determine whether you are the best candidate for the job including a good fit for their company and for the team you could be a part of.
To prepare for an interview in the best way, it is useful to remember a list of things you should avoid saying during an interview and tips on what you should say instead.
DO NOT SHARE YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE JOB
You need to keep your answered centered around your skills and qualifications, not the issues you have with the job or the responsibilities you do not think you will enjoy. Every job will have duties you may find mundane and less enjoyable however it is part of the job and the employer wants to know you are interested in the overall role.
COMPLAIN ABOUT YOUR CURRENT EMPLOYER
Do not badmouth your current employer. If you make comments such as my boss is the worst or I hate my current employer, the interviewer is going to wonder if you will say the same about your new boss if things do not work out and question how professional you are able to be. Should you have had an issue with a current or previous employer, it is only appropriate to discuss if the employer specifically asks for more detail and it will not compromise how they feel about you and your professionality and can often be a big red flag for employer’s.
LEAVE YOUR PHONE ON LOUD
You would not leave your phone on loud in the movies or at a wedding, so do not do it during an interview. The only thing ruder than having your phone go off during an interview, would be to ask the interviewer if you would not mind if you took the call. You phone should either be on silent or completely turned off before you walk into the interview.
NOT HAVE ANY QUESTIONS TO ASK THE INTERVIEWER
When applying for a role with a company you have not worked for before, you are bound to have questions. There are many things you do not know and many answers you may not get until you ask. An example of question’s you may ask the employer that demonstrate your interest in the role and the organisation include:
“Why was this role made available, is it a brand-new role?”
“ What kind of cultural fit are you looking for?”
“How many people are in the team I would be working in?”
“How soon after my interview can I expect to hear from you regarding the next stages of the recruitment process?”
USE PROFANITY
It is very important that you display professionalism during an interview, whether you have applied for a role that is entry level or executive and this can be achieved by using professional language. If you were to swear during an interview it not only leaves a bad taste in the interviewer’s mouth but may cause them to question if they could trust you to speak with their external stakeholders and client’s. Do not give them a reason to doubt your abilities!
LIE ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE
There is never an excuse to lie about your experience or qualifications. You need to answer each question as truthfully as you can and find a way to relate the experience you do have; with the question they are asking. If there are area’s you feel you can improve in, be honest and let the interviewer know that you are willing to learn and develop and skill up in that area. No matter where you are applying, employer’s will check your credentials and ask for proof of qualifications, so do not leave any room for error where you may be caught in a lie.
BE CLUELESS ABOUT THE COMPANY
Perhaps the biggest no, no of all is that you need to have done your research about the company you are intending to work for and know the basics before arriving at their doors. It can be a huge red flag for employer’s when an applicant does not take the time to learn about the company and express genuine interest in what they do.
Finding a new job can be taxing so make sure that you approach every interview as a new opportunity. Think of your future interview as a learning experience, which it effectively is. That way, regardless of whether or not the interview goes “well”, you’ll still come out with knowledge to make your next interview that much better. Lastly, remember to learn from past interview mistakes that you can avoid by using this list.
