Interview dos and don’ts for today’s job-seeker
The interview can present job seekers with more than a few dilemmas. Interviewees worry about saying too much or too little. They worry about saying the right thing at the wrong time or the wrong thing altogether. And despite that growing glow of selfconfidence, it’s not always a good idea to skip the tried-and-true approaches and instead go with your instincts.
To help ease some pre-interview nerves, we’ve created a brief guide on what to say and what not to say — and when not to say it — during a job interview:
DO tell a story about yourself that has value; something that involves overcoming an obstacle. You want to explain to your employer that you’re capable of getting past the occasional roadblock by working around it, going above it or plowing through it. This is an anecdote you should have rehearsed in advance, as it’s a normal part of the interviewing process.
DON’T tell employers that you would have been able to get something done if it wasn’t for X, Y or Z in your way. Again, your job here is to let employers know that you can overcome adversity and keep the workflow moving and on track. By telling your interviewer that you would have been able to get it done if it weren’t for a certain reason — and any reason is a bad reason — you’re basically coming across as someone who is incapable of finding new solutions and would rather make excuses instead of getting the work done. DO talk about yourself and how you relate to others. You want to convey the fact that you’re a good team player; someone who is willing to work with others and not afraid to listen to new ideas and strategies.
DON’T mention how you were able to overcome a lot of bad co-workers or untalented, unmotivated people on your team. It comes across as sour grapes and, worse yet, you’ll sound like an amateur; not the polished professional they’re looking to hire.
DO praise a former boss if it comes up in conversation, especially if he or she merits the accolades. Tell your interviewer about what you learned working with a particular person and how you can use that knowledge to advance one of the company’s goals. Follow that up with how you’re looking forward to learning from your potential new managers, if you are hired for the job. DON’T badmouth a former boss under any circumstances. No one wants to hear about how you had to endure the cruelty of some sort of corporate darklord. All they’re hearing is “I’m too good to work for you.” DO talk about other areas of your life. It’s OK to mention some of the volunteer work you’ve done or some of your out-of-the-office interests. You don’t need to dwell on this part of the conversation, but you should at least come across as someone who is well-rounded and, more importantly, a person who picks up bits of information and knowledge in all areas of his or her life. Explain how that information you can help bring in fresh ideas and opportunities DON’T talk about your personal life. Aside from a few casual questions, you’re not there to tell your potential employer who watches your kids while you’re at work or whether or not they go to private schools. Despite all of the talk about work/ life balance, there are still employers out there who want to know that you will be putting the company first, even if they know that won’t be the case once you actually begin working. DO provide an accurate portrait of
yourself. There’s nothing wrong with a little self-deprecation either — maybe an anecdote about that time things didn’t go quite as planned that you can use to again show off your skills at overcoming adversity. DON’T try to be someone you’re not. If you see a photo of your interviewer on a fishing trip, don’t pretend to know all about landing a muskie. Stick with what you know. DO ask about the company’s place in
its market. Most employers enjoy talking about their accomplishments and their goals and will appreciate your interest in their status. Again, this is important because it gives you some talking points for the remainder of your interview. If you find out they are highly successful at landing foreign clients but are having trouble making inroads in the domestic market, you can offer up some of your own personal experiences or ideas about how to change that in the future.
DON’T ask about takeover rumors you’ve seen online or negative stories
you read in the press. If those rumors and stories scare you, and you don’t want to work for a particular company, don’t take the interview. There’s plenty of time to discuss the company’s stability after you’ve been handed a job offer. During an interview, however, questions about a negative story in the Wall Street Journal or a rumor that employees have been working without a raise for 10 years may seem like informed questions but will it come across as arrogant and accusatory. DO choose your words carefully. How you speak matters. Obviously, you should refrain from using coarse language and crude terminology while avoiding the various mouth noises and the frequent “umm.” Beyond that, make sure you’re speaking in a professional manner. You aren’t chatting with friends or sitting at a bar. While a casual tone can be effective for an interview, you still need to maintain a level of professionalism at all times.
DON’T be afraid to take a moment or two after a question to gather your thoughts. Interviewers understand that they’re putting you on the spot and asking questions that you know could affect your short- and long-term future. While a 60-second gap between question and answer wouldn’t work, don’t feel the need to jump right in with your responses. You can even say something like “let me think about that for a second” before you offer a response.