Never Tell An Interviewer These Things

Acing a job interview is all about convincing a hiring manager you have what it takes to succeed in a new role. If you slip up and say the wrong thing, you are likely to miss out on opportunities for advancement in your industry. The next time you go to a job interview, don't reveal the following information to the hiring manager or recruiter.

1. Short Employment Periods

Believe it or not, your resume doesn't have to list all of your jobs. It's not a legal document; it's a document meant to market your knowledge and skills to potential employers. However, it's not wise to mention that you only spent one or two months at a job. It makes you look like someone who gives up easily or has a hard time evaluating whether you have what it takes to succeed.

2. Job Nightmares

You may have left your last job because your boss was a nightmare, but don't mention that during a job interview. If you complain about your former colleagues, the interviewer might wonder if you aren't very good at handling conflict or building positive relationships.

3. Educational Plans

During a job interview, the interviewer wants to find out if you are likely to stay with the company for several years. Mentioning that you plan to go back to school within a year is a sure-fire way to make the interviewer think twice about hiring you.

4. Desire for Promotion

Telling the interviewer about your desire to move up in the company is one of the most common interview mistakes. It's nice to be ambitious, but telling the interviewer you want to be promoted indicates you may not be happy in a lower-level role. Interviewers need to find employees who are happy to fill open roles and stay there for the long haul.

5. Lack of References

Don't ever tell a hiring manager you have no references. Even if you just graduated, you should be able to give the name of a professor when asked for a job reference. A lack of references is a huge red flag, so don't ruin your shot at the job by refusing to provide a few names.

6. Dream Job

A job interview is not the place to tell someone what you really want to do with your life, especially if your life goals don't quite match the job description. If you share your hopes and dreams, the interviewer might worry that you are going to leave the company within a year or two. Again, hiring managers are looking for employees to stay for more than a few months.

Interviews can be stressful, so it's no wonder that so many candidates make common interview mistakes. If you are about to meet with a hiring manager, remember not to mention any of these things during your job interview.

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