There are a lot of good things you should say in an interview. This is the time to use all the manners your mom or dad taught you growing up. Please. Thank you. Pardon? Addressing those older than you by their title and last name, like “Mr. _____.” Complete sentences with proper grammar are critical. Employers want specific situations in response to questions. These are good things to include in the conversation.
There are also some dumb things to avoid in any conversation, as pointed out in an Inc.com article, especially if you are a manager. One of the phrases they highlighted was, “Don’t bring me any surprises.” When a leader starts limiting conversations and information, it can be costly. If there is a problem, the first person to know should be the leader. Telling staff that you don’t want to hear about problems can isolate a leader to the point that they are clueless about the very things they are responsible for.
Barbara Walters once asked Katherine Hepburn what was to become a most controversial question, “If you were a tree, what kind of a tree would you be?” Some said it was the dumbest question. Inc.com agrees. These types of questions, especially in interviews, are supposed to reveal what kind of person they are and if they will fit in the organization. Not so. What does that have to do with being competent on the job or a great team player?
“Don’t take it personally,” is another. As soon as you say that, the other person becomes defensive, waiting for the criticism. Don’t make personal, derogatory statements if you don’t want someone to take something personally. It’s practically impossible.
There are other phrases to stay away from in an interview. One is,” I’m going to be honest with you…”. Well, what were you being before? Dishonest? Just say what you have to say. If you have to say you are being honest, you must not be very credible in the first place.
Another phrase to avoid is, “I have never…” or I have always…” Absolutes are rare. No one is 100 percent one way or another. It’s better to talk about specific times instead of making a blanket statement about your accomplishments. No one expects perfection.
Bashing a former boss or co-workers is another topic of conversation to avoid. Interviewers ask questions to see how much information a candidate will divulge. They can set up a situation where you feel you have to be “honest.” Interviewers aren’t attracted to negative candidates. It is unprofessional and a little immature to go at length about a bad boss or difficult co-workers. The more you try to show them in a bad light, the more you come off as the problem.
Interviews are a prospective employer’s chance to uncover the real candidate. A skilled interviewer make a candidate feel so comfortable that she will talk and reveal just about anything. Most people are uncomfortable with silence, and an interviewer will deliberately not talk after a candidate finishes answering a question because he knows that the “awkward silence” will make them start talking again. The more they talk, the chances are they will say something that will reveal red flags. Be aware of interviewing techniques to avoid saying something in an interview that could take you out of the running.
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