What not to say at a job interview
Aine Cain asked hiring managers and bosses to list their biggest red flags about job candidates.
It’s not hard to flub an interview. The nerves that come with sitting across from a hiring manager and opening yourself up for judgment sometimes just cause you say the wrong thing at the wrong time.
That’s understandable. But what phrases really tick off interviewers?
We spoke with a number of people in leadership positions across a variety of industries about the things they don’t want to hear from an interviewee.
‘My boss was demanding’
‘‘Don’t complain about your current position or employer,’’ says Vip Sandhir, founder of employee engagement platform HighGround. ‘‘I want to hire positive people, and it’s an immediate red flag if someone is too critical during an interview.’’
By far, complaining about past gigs or bosses is one of the worst things you can do in an interview. Many of our experts listed this as their number one pet peeve. Basically, no-one likes a whiner.
‘‘Talking negatively about your current job raises a red flag that you might be difficult to manage, or someone that blames management for their own poor performance,’’ says Warren Webster, president of fashion and lifestyle brand Coveteur.
‘‘And I can’t help thinking you might be interviewing somewhere else in a couple years saying the same thing about us.’’
If you have to explain away why you left your last job on short notice, put a positive spin on it. Whatever you do, don’t gripe. Even if you’re totally justified, it will just sound like sour grapes.
‘It’s so f------- cold outside’
‘‘Most of us drop the occasional F-bomb, but during a job interview is never the time or the place,’’ says Lucinda Ellery, founder of beauty brand Lucinda Ellery Consultancy.
‘I wasn’t challenged enough’
Saying you have moved around in jobs because you haven’t found the right fit or were not challenged enough will make you sound aimless, says Gianna Scorsone, senior vice-president of marketing for Mondo, a tech and digital marketing recruitment firm.
‘‘This will make the interviewer immediately think to themselves: ‘Why would this role be any different? They will probably leave here in six months,’’’ she says. ‘‘Also, this begs the question of what type of relationship you have with your manager … Ultimately, a manager would love someone who brings ideas and solutions to the table.’’
‘What does your firm do?’
If you can answer your question with a Google search, don’t ask it.
‘‘You should have done your research before coming through our door,’’ says Fingerpaint Marketing founder Ed Mitzen.
‘‘I pretty much work alone’
‘‘If you are in a leadership or managerial position, never take all the credit for accomplishments,’’ says Suzanne Silverstein, president of contemporary clothing line Parker. ‘‘Emphasise your team and how, through their talents, your vision is being realised. Most successful leaders know that they are only as good as their team.’’
‘It was just like a startup’
Saying that working in your immediate team was ‘‘just like a startup, but inside a big corporation’’ can be a putoff.
‘‘I get the point; however, no corporate experience is really like a startup, especially one that is boot-strapped,’’ Webster says. ‘‘Saying this proves that you don’t really understand the realities of a startup environment.’’
‘I’m not very punctual’
It’s not a great idea to highlight a flaw like tardiness. ‘‘Anyone that doesn’t have the discipline to show up on time isn’t someone we will trust with our clients’ business,’’ Mitzen says.
‘What will my role be?’
In most cases, you should already have a good sense of what you’re interviewing. Either way, you want to convey that you’re flexible.
‘‘Questions like this suggest you will limit yourself to purely what is expected of you, when in reality your role is whatever you make of it,’’ says Kon Leong, founder of software company ZL Technologies. ‘‘Especially in small companies, the ability to adapt and take on new responsibilities is highly valued.’’
‘I’m a guru/expert’
Be careful about overblowing your accomplishments. ‘‘I cringe when millennials call themselves experts or gurus at things that take time to master,’’ says Keren Kang, chief executive of advertising agency Native Commerce. ‘‘’I’m an expert in SEO,’ or ‘I’m an expert in copywriting.’ Say you’re excited about it and love learning about it.’’
‘I haven’t updated my blog’
‘‘I never want to hear about how people start a bunch of things without giving it much commitment or execution. For example, if you started a blog, but only updated it for one week, I don’t need to hear about it,’’ Kang says.
‘I work too hard’
‘‘It’s also a turnoff when candidates answer the question of what are some areas of weakness with an overly positive response,’’ Sandhir says. ‘‘I want to see some humility. Not everyone is perfect, so candidates should be self-aware and be able to articulate their natural challenges in a way that doesn’t derail the interview.’’
‘I don’t have any questions’
‘‘A candidate that ‘doesn’t have any questions’ is potentially somebody that is either not interested in your organisation, their career, or possibly both,’’ Ellery says. –BusinessInsider.com.au