It’s a fact—you can go through a thousand job interviews but that doesn’t make them any easier. Even the smallest slip-up can make a big difference! However, don’t let that get you down. Here’s a list of twelve phrases to avoid if you want to keep your interview on the right track.
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“What does your company do?”
While you might think that asking, “What does your company do?” sounds like you’re interested, it actually shows you haven’t done your homework. You should take some time to research the company even before you step foot in the interview. Knowing what they do & a few details about their industry shows you’re serious about the job.
“I hated my last boss.”
Bad-mouthing your past boss can backfire, especially if your interviewer knows them well. It really doesn’t matter how horrible they were—you just look bad saying, “I hated my last boss.” It means you can bad mouth your employer behind their back. Instead, if you need to talk about any challenges in your current position, focus on what you learned from them. This keeps things positive.
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“How soon can I take a vacation?”
Asking “How soon can I take a vacation?” makes it seem like you’re not really into the job—rather, you’re just applying for the perks. Save the vacation conversation for after you’ve got an offer or when you’re discussing benefits in a later interview. At least then, they’ll know you’re serious.
“How much does this job pay?”
Like vacations, talking about salary right out of the gate will make you come across as greedy. Even if the salary is all you care about, you don’t want the interviewer to know that! Hold off on the money talk until you’re further along in the interview process so you can focus on proving how right you are for the job.
“I don’t have any weaknesses.”
One of the most difficult interview questions is, “What are your weaknesses?” — and the worst answer to this is, “I don’t have any.” Everybody has one! Claiming you don’t have any weaknesses comes off as dishonest or unaware. You should always mention a real weakness but either talk about how you’re working to get better at it or frame it as a positive.
“I don’t know.”
It’s okay not to know everything—your interviewer isn’t expecting you to be an encyclopedia. However, ending with “I don’t know” seems like you’re not willing to find solutions. If you’re stuck on a question, say you’re unsure but eager to learn. Better yet, you should talk about how you’d figure out the answer.
“No, I don’t have any questions.”
When you say you don’t have any questions, you’re telling the hiring team that you’re not that interested in the job. You should always have a couple of questions ready about the job or the company—no matter where you’re applying. It shows you’re thinking seriously about how you’d fit in.
“I’m really nervous.”
It’s normal to feel nervous but there’s no need to point it out to the interviewers! Mentioning it can make them wonder if you can handle any stressful situations. Instead, keep your cool & focus on your skills by telling them all about it. You might be surprised at how much more confident it can make you feel.
“I’m the perfect person for this job.”
Similarly, of course, it’s great to be confident. However, saying you’re perfect just comes off as arrogant so you should talk about your skills instead. You can even mention your experience and use it as proof of what they’re looking for. Your confidence is far more believable when you have evidence to back it up!
“I’m not really into the whole team meeting thing.”
It’s true—everyone has their own working style that they prefer, although you shouldn’t close yourself off in an interview. Saying you dislike team meetings can make you seem like you’re not a team player. To avoid this, you should talk about how you balance solo work with team efforts & demonstrate how you can adapt to different work styles.
“Can I work from home?”
Post-pandemic, the idea of working from home doesn’t seem so strange anymore. But you should still wait for the company to mention it rather than asking, “Can I work from home?” straight away. You need to understand the company culture better and you really don’t want them to think that you’re not interested in being with the team.
“Do you check references?”
It’s standard practice for a company to check your references so why are you asking about it? If you do, you’ll come across as anxious or like you have something to hide. To avoid this, simply make sure your references know you’ve put them down. They should be prepared to vouch for you—in a good way!
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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