Bad Habits to Avoid in the Job Interview

A job interview is simply a conversation between the candidate and the hiring manager.? Conversation is speech between two or more people where thoughts, ideas, information and opinions are exchanged.? In making attempts to put your best foot forward, this conversation should be elevated to a more formal exchange due to the fact that two strangers are conversing.? Normal societal conversational dictates should reign.? One of these is the need for proper English.? Pop culture influences society and our language.? We see celebrities using terms or phrases then naturally it becomes part of our personal lexicon. These pop culture terms and phrases don’t necessarily need to be brought into the job interview.? I’ve noticed with my clients a trend of phrases and words that are used repeatedly during our sessions.? Although these phrases may not be offensive, they could tip an unconscious bias within the interviewer distracting them from seeing all that you bring to the table. Do you recognize yourself using these terms and phrases?

1. ?“I think….”

When asked specific questions, the response begins, “I think…”.? To begin your answer with the phrase, “I think” implies that you really don’t know the answer to a question that requires a specific, factual response.? Are you making up the answer?? Do you indeed know the answer to the posed question? Are you grasping, stalling for time to recall the answer?? Repeatedly beginning answers with “I think” is a red flag and puts doubt in the interviewer's mind.? Planting any seeds of doubt doesn’t help your cause especially when there is a line of fully qualified candidates waiting to interview.? When answering questions that require specifics, be specific.? When asked a philosophical question or for your opinion, “I think” is appropriate.? Otherwise, “I think” may cause you to look insecure in your answers, unprepared or making it up.? Answering untruthfully is always a no-no because the truth always comes out.

?2. Pesky filler words

Candidates use filler words like “ugh”, “um”, “sure”, “right, um” and “so”.? These filler words are used so the speaker has a second to gather their thoughts but can be perceived as a sign of nervousness.? Use of filler words is very common.? Unfortunately, many times they just become a bad habit and are annoying when repeated over and over during an interview especially if you are interviewing with a person who does not use these filler words.? Frequently, candidates choose to begin sentences with “Sure…”, “So….” and “Right, um….” Continual use of these fillers are bothersome to interviewers as they are grating, and irritating.? An interviewer may wonder if the candidate will be speaking to important clients in this manner.? Eliminate this bad habit.? When you feel the need to spout a “So…”, stop, take a breath, then speak without the filler word.? It takes practice but is achievable.

3. The old-but-goodie, “Like…”.?

We’ve all heard it.? The word “like” being used multiple times in one sentence.? Constantly using this word inappropriately could cause an interviewer to question your knowledge.? It diminishes your intelligence in their eyes, placing seeds of doubt as to your competency. Granted, this word has been misused so often over the past several years that many will say it doesn’t matter, but people still notice its misuse.? An organization wants employees to speak appropriately with their clients.? The employee represents the organization's interests and is the face of the company.? I’ve known hiring managers that count how many times a person uses “like” during an interview!? Start now making a concerted effort to remove the inappropriate use of this word.

4. “So, yeah…”

Two newer combinations that have become popular in the past few years are, “So, yeah…” or “Yeah, no…”. These phrases are used to begin a response to an interview question.? I hear them quite a bit.? If the answer is “yes” then say “yes” and elaborate with a story or explanation.? The same goes for the answer “no”.? “No” means “no”, why confuse it with a combined, “yeah”? This particular response is confusing.? If you are using “Yeah, no” to acknowledge the question and then disagreeing with a portion of it,? just say it.? Regrettably, those who use these terms tend to abuse with constant repetition in an interview.? It’s become a habit.? A bad habit!?

5. Minimizing words.??

Words like “actually”, “honestly”, “just”, “kinda”, “truly” are only a few of a myriad of minimizing words used in interviews.? Our words should enhance, augment and strengthen our communication projecting confidence and professionalism. These words weaken the speaker's message demonstrating a possible lack of self-assurance. Women, more than men, are often accused of using minimizing words but I see this with both my male and female clients equally.? It is more frequent in my younger clients.? When “honestly” is used repeatedly, it causes the listener to wonder if you weren’t being honest in previous statements.? Many clients have begun using “actually” just as they would misuse the word, “like”.? It shows up in every other sentence! The use of minimizing words does not help you.? Begin now eliminating them from your speech.

6. ?“That’s a great question”

This statement is used quite often on TV when a guest doesn’t know the answer right away and needs a second to gather his thoughts.? It is also used in job interviews much to the chagrin of hiring managers everywhere!? Candidates use it to buy time to find their answer.? It’s an old and tired statement, completely unnecessary unless you are asked an out-of-left-field philosophical question.? Not all questions are good questions, right?? This phrase is used when the candidate may not know the answer and is reaching for a “lifeline” answer!? I once knew of a person who interviewed a candidate that repeated this phase with each and every question.? The interveiwer then started to ask very dumb questions and the candidate still, steadfastly began his response with, “That’s a great question”! Needless to say, the candidate did not get the job.??

7. T-glottalization

This is the fancy term for a type of pronunciation we hear very frequently nowadays.? It is also termed, a glottal-stop or more easily referred to as dropping the “t”.? This pronunciation can commonly be found in areas of Great Britain.? Some Londoners may use a Cockney dialect which features a version of the dropped “t”.? Women do this more than men and linguists don’t know why this has become such a large trend here in America. It doesn’t matter where you live in America, it seems to persist everywhere. It is most noticeable when the “t” is in the middle of a word.? For example the word “important” is pronounced “im-POR-unh” or the word “button” is pronounced “BUH-unh”.? The “t” can also be dropped at the end of the word but it sounds most extreme when the “t” is in the middle of the word.? Why are “t’s” being so disrespected? As a professional, speaking correctly is vital to communication.? A hiring manager must hire people who represent the company to clients.? They must be precisely understood when they speak.? Continual dropping of the “t” during an interview could bring out a bias in the interviewer.? Why place that target on yourself causing an interviewer to secretly wonder why you are choosing to drop the “t” and continue to mispronounce simple words.? Please don’t drop your “t’s”!

These trendy phrases or words have become bad habits for many.? And like all bad habits they can be purged from our speech. It takes awareness, work and practice.? Listen to your peers and notice if and when they also use these terms.? Once you are aware of them it’s easier to stop.? Choose one at a time to eliminate.? Listen to what you are saying and be resolute in reminding yourself not to state these words or phrases.? Have a friend help you by calling you out when you say the word.? You can do it!?

We are frequently told that our words matter and they most certainly do! Purposeful, proficient and competent speaking skills are fundamental to business today.? Organizations want employees to represent the company with mature, capable, concise, easily understood and above all professional speaking skills.