Things You Should Never Say at a Job Interview
Ali Khaled Alhashmi
Certified Coach, HR Professional, Motivational Speaker & Published Author
Have you received a call inviting you for an interview and you are in the thick of things preparing for it? Yes, you must prepare answers to potential interview questions, you must research the company, and you must come up with a list of questions to ask the hiring manager. Something else equally important is this: You must have in mind what you should never say at a job interview.
The aim of everything you say must be to help you take a step closer to getting the job. The effect of saying the wrong thing is quite the opposite. It is akin to shooting yourself in the foot.
Here are the things you should never say.
I did not like my boss
Rule number one of interviews is to never badmouth your former bosses no matter how bad they were or say anything negative about your previous job. You will only paint yourself in a negative light. Besides, what will stop you from badmouthing them when you leave?
It is on my resume
The hiring manager has a copy of your resume and knows what they are asking about is there. What they are asking is perhaps for an elaboration or to test your communication skills. Take it as an invitation to articulate yourself.
How much will I make?
Never be the first one to bring up this subject. It is the prerogative of the hiring manager to bring it up for discussion.
I do not have any questions
Always prepare a list of questions to ask the hiring manager. This should never be your response when your time to ask questions comes up. It shows the lack of interest in the company or the position you’re seeking.
What do you do around here?
Always research the company before you show up for the interview. Understand their core business and goals. If you bring up this question, you will only show that you never cared to do any research.
I will do anything!
This statement smells desperation and shows the hiring manager that you are more interested in getting a job than contributing to the success of the company in a specific role. Know what you want and show passion.
I don’t know
Even if you cannot answer an interview question, never say you don’t know. It may send the impression that you don’t want to think. Instead, do not panic. Panic will only freeze your mind. Remain calm and maintain a confident posture. You can but some time by rephrasing the question or asking for clarification. Who knows, you may get a fresh insight as you do that!
Conclusion
The list of things you should never say at a job interview is virtually endless. These are just common things that people say, which you ought to keep in mind as you maneuver your way through an interview. If you put your strong foot forward without stepping on any toes or shooting yourself in the foot, you will be fine.
Head Of Procurement at Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship ICA
7 å¹´excellent and very useful... would help others more if u can translate it to Arabic
COMPANY SECRETARY & LAW GRADUATE FROM DELHI UNIVERSITY WITH 20 YRS EXPERIENCE WITH MANUFACTURING COMPANIES
7 å¹´Well captured Ali... but how far we need to pose in order to get a job...I think things would change as you go up the ladder.. does the prospective employer need your hypocrisy or true self.. Employers who are seriously looking for a certain skill set will probably focus on the fitment rather than other aspects. And if you don't have a good boss .. dats d reason of ur looking for another opportunity... it should not always be taken as negative. Corporate culture needs to be more open n frank with due respect to seniority n hierarchy !!
Business Management/ Strategic Consultant/ Guest Faculty
7 å¹´Depends. Some of these can and should be in fact said in an interview. Or, putting it another way: i would not reject a candidate if he or she said any of these things. https://www.dhirubhai.net/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6304885599497216000