What Not to Say in a Job Interview

Summary: The job interview can be a scary event for even the most seasoned professional, but it should not cause you to say dumb things. Avoid these topics and you will do much better in your interviews.

Attending a job interview for the first time, or the 15th time, does not have to result in an embarrassing situation. Whether you are new to the workforce or are a seasoned professional, preparing for the interview is vital. Preparation can help prevent you from saying dumb things in response to questions asked by the interviewer. In this post, we will discuss the dumbest things you should never say during a job interview.

“I am desperate for work.”

One of the dumbest things you could ever say during a job interview is that you are desperate for work. Even if you have told the interviewer that you have been unemployed or are right out of college, you still do not need to make a production out of the need for a job. Interviewers are looking for people who will remain loyal to the company and genuinely want to work for that company, not just someone who is in desperate need for work.

“I have interviews scheduled with…”

Never, ever, tell an interviewer that you have job interviews scheduled with other companies, even if they are not direct competitors. Many job seekers think that mentioning this will make them seem sought-after, but this cannot be further from the truth. This is incredibly rude and will remove you from the list of short candidates the company would like to bring back for additional interviews.

“I never liked my former boss.”

If you want to have an interview go badly from the very beginning, make it known how you did not get along with a former boss. Make sure you never say a bad word about a former employer, even if things were not rosy. Interviewers are looking for someone who will remain loyal, even in difficult times, which is why you need to speak positively about your former employer.

“I am late because I fought with my husband.”

There are two major mistakes in this section; arriving late for a job interview and offering up personal information to the interviewer. The interviewer does not care why you are late, especially when it involves personal matters. Some interviewers will be lenient, but when you combine these two items, the candidate will not look like a strong candidate to be hired.

“Think twice before hiring John Doe.”

Never bring up a person you know who is interviewing for the same position during your job interview, especially if you are going to talk badly about them to the interviewer. This will show the interviewer that you have no ethics and are not loyal to your friends or acquaintances.

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