If you are on a job search, one of the important things you need to prepare is your answers to the job interview. It is, after all, a requirement that you go through an interview for your future boss to know you better. This is where you can exhibit your skills and tell them how exactly you will be an asset to their company.
That said, you do not only prepare your answers for the interview, but you should also know what not to say. You would not want to scare them off and not get the job. Here are the top 10 things you should never say during a job interview.
1. “I feel nervous right now.”
Feeling nervous before or during a job interview is normal. All of us go through this.
But letting your interviewer know your insides are quivering and your palms are sweating will make you appear unprepared, which will make them think you are not whole-heartedly willing and confident to take the job.
2. “It is stated on my resume.”
Your interviewer knows how to read, obviously. You don’t have to tell them to read what’s on your resume, especially on questions answerable by what’s already in there.
More often than not, they ask because they want you to elaborate and they are giving you a shot at flaunting those details. Grab the opportunity.
3. “I like to think outside the box.” or “I like a challenge.”
Although employers would like to hear positive words where you tell them how hardworking you can be, they do not exactly like cliché statements such as the ones above.
If you really want to go with these statements, support them with examples of instances where you had to “think outside the box” or took on a challenge.
4. “My previous company/boss was… [negative babble].”
One big job interview faux pas is to speak badly about your previous company and previous boss. Oftentimes, the bad-mouthing reflects negatively on you, and not on your previous employer.
Avoid talking about your ex-company, especially if they are not good words.
5. “I will do anything you want me to do.”
While any employer would love to have an employee who’s loyal enough to be willing to die for the company, that simply is just not a real thing.
Let’s be realistic here. You don’t really mean it when you say you will do anything that they want you to do, right? They don’t believe it either.
6. “What are your company’s terms for employees going on long vacations?”
You are not even hired yet and you are already talking about taking long vacations? If you are the employer, how would that make you feel?
That’s right; you would feel that this employee may not be exceedingly productive if his/her priority is going on vacations. Leave the “vacation” questions when you are already hired.
7. “Let’s drink to that.”
Inviting your interviewer for a drink, even if he/she is a friend, may not be a good idea to do during or after the interview.
It may not be a good time to let your potential employer know that you have a little alcohol dependency. Invite them to something more professional – like a coffee or lunch.
8. “I see myself as your boss.”
When asked how you see yourself in the next five or ten years, never tell your interviewer that you will be his/her boss.
This may be passed as a joke and you can both laugh at it but trust us when we say, this is a nail driven straight to your “not hired” coffin.
9. “No questions.”
By the end of the interview, you will be asked if you have any questions. This is the right time for you to do exactly that – to ask questions.
Saying that you don’t have questions does not make you look smart. It actually makes you look uninterested.
10. “I don’t know.”
Let’s be honest and admit that you don’t know the answer to every interview question that may come up, no matter how prepared you may be. There are just questions that you really have no idea how to answer.
If you don’t know the answer, say something like “I have not tackled that specific topic yet but I will be willing to research it and get back to you” instead of a high and dry “I don’t know”.
Your career may go through a rough start if you say the wrong things. Although you would not want to lie, there are instances when you have to sugar-coat your answers to show them that you are immensely interested to join their company. Knowing what to say and what not to say is the first step to land your dream job. So make sure you avoid these cringe-worthy and head-shaking answers to your job interviews.