The 5 Worst Things You Can Say During an Interview

Going to an interview is a really stressful experience. If you aren't careful, you can drive yourself crazy before you even arrive. Between preparing for commonly asked question to selecting the perfect interview outfit, it's enough to push you over the edge. The key is to take a deep breath and remind yourself over and over that this is just a chance to find out more about the job opening and show the hiring manager what you have to offer. Sure, it's a high stakes game, but nothing worth having comes easily.



The most important thing you can do to keep your nerves at bay is to be prepared for the interview. First, you should have an idea of how you will answer some of the most common interview questions. Knowing what to say is important. Also, it's important to know what not to say.



Here are 5 things you shouldn't say during an interview:

 

1. "My last boss was a jerk" - While it's important to be honest about why you left your last job, honesty doesn't equal trash-talking. Even if the reason you left your last job was because you hated your boss, don't say that during an interview. Instead, mention how the job wasn't a good fit for you and what type of job you think would work better.
2. "What does your company do exactly?" - Before your interview, you should research the company and have a general idea of what they do. The only time it's allowable for you to not know very much about a company is if you are going to an interview where the name of the company hasn't been disclosed. However, this is rare and when it happens, it should be a red flag that the job opening may not be a legitimate one.
3. "I'm going to need to take these days off" - We all have lives and obligations and a new employer will understand that. Perhaps you have a family vacation planned or a sister's wedding. It's happened to me that I have been out of work, made plans far in advance and then ended up getting a new job just a couple of weeks before the date. I've had to explain my situation and work out the time off. However, the time to bring this up isn't during the interview. It will only come off as presumptuous. Instead, wait until you are offered the job and are discussing start dates and so on.
4. "Do you attend church regularly?" - Or, do you support Little League or whatever. While it's important to try to establish rapport with an interviewer, it's equally important to not pry into their personal lives. You might think that you are just showing an interest, it can come off as just plain creepy. Avoid asking personal questions about family obligations, religious affiliations or anything that strays too far from the professional realm.
5. "You know what I really hate..." - When answering questions, be careful not to go on a rant, especially a negative one. Even if the interviewer smiles and nods, as if they agree with you, don't take it as a sign of encouragement. It's more likely to be the case that they are just nodding to see how far you will go. When you complain or rant, even if it's justified, you just come off as someone who is negative or bitter.

Hopefully, these tips will help you when you go to your next interview. If nothing else, maybe they can make you smile while you're waiting for the interviewer.