It's hard to get an interview these days, but when you get one, it's important to make the most of it. Sometimes we all speak without thinking or let nerves get the better of us. I think everyone has had the experience of just not being able to make a good impression at one time or another. There have been some times that I have met someone or been in an interview and it seemed as though no matter how hard I tried, I just wasn't making a connection.
When that happens, all you can do is take a deep breath and try to find another way. The worst thing you can do is let your nerves and frustration take over and end up saying something that makes you look really bad.
Here are 5 things to never say during an interview:
Sorry that I'm late, the traffic was bad - Being on time to an interview is a must. If you are late because of a legitimate reason, it's best to call the interviewer and try to reschedule the meeting. Anything later than 5 minutes is extremely bad form. Before your interview date, you should have figured out what the traffic is like during that time of day and have a plan in place to get out of the door and get to the interview on time.
I'll just take this call, it will only take a minute - This meeting can make the difference between staying unemployed or getting a new job. Don't blow it. There is nothing more important than the time you spend in the interview. Turn your phone off before you even go in, and don't check it for any reason. If you take calls during the interview, the hiring manager will be offended and think that either you don't take the meeting seriously or that your personal life is too complicated for you to be an effective employee.
My previous boss was a jerk - Don't talk bad about anyone during your interview. This isn't the time or place. Sure, you might have legitimate reasons for wanting to get away from your boss, but this isn't the time to spill them. Not only is it bad manners, gossiping about others shows a lack of character and will only make you look bad. Even if your boss was horrible, the best case scenario is that even if you get hired, your boss's first impression of you was as someone who had that mean boss.
So, what do you do here? What does the company make? - Asking questions about what the company does shows that you didn't research the company and aren't interested in this specific job. Hiring managers want to know that you really want to work for them, so show them that you know what the company is about and what it does. Also, if the interviewer asks you if you know anything about the company, don't just tell them that you visited the website. Instead, have a few facts to tell them and summarize what you've learned about them in the course of your research.
Do I really have to wear that? - If the company has a uniform, you should have known that before the interview. Still, many companies have uniforms that aren't always attractive for every skin tone or body type. Even if you hate it and even if the interviewer makes a negative comment about it, don't say or do anything that make you appear less than excited to wear their uniform.
Job interviews are stressful, but don't lose your cool and say something you might regret.
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