What not to say at an interview -

What not to say at an interview - You spend a lot of time thinking of what TO say, but what not to say in an interview is very important. You need to be ready for anything, including weird interview questions.You dont want to blurt out something inappropriate and send all of your hard work down the toilet. Avoid these inappropriate comments during your interview. What not to say at an interview 1. Im really nervous. Theres nothing wrong with feeling nervous. Its natural to be a little uneasy at an important interview. Dont tell the interviewer if you have butterflies in your stomach, though. Your job in the interview is to portray a confident and professional demeanor. You wont win any points by admitting your nerves or blaming them for any failures in your performance. 2. I dont really know much about the job; I thought youd tell me all about it. This is a big job seeker mistake, and it can cost you the opportunity. Employers spend a lot of time interviewing, and they expect candidates to have researched the jobs enough to be able to explain why they want the positions. Otherwise, you could be wasting everyones time by interviewing for a job you may not even really want. Asking questions is important, but dont ask anything you should know from the job description or from reading about the company online 3. My last boss/colleague/client was a real jerk. Its possible (even likely) that your interviewer could prod you into telling tales about your previous or current supervisor or work environment. Resist the urge to badmouth anyone, even if you have a bad boss. It is unprofessional and the employer will worry what you may say to someone about him or her down the road. Instead, think about ways to describe past work environments in terms of what you learned or accomplishments youre proud to discuss. 4. My biggest weakness is (something directly related to the job). Whats your weakness? is one of the most dreaded interview questions. Theres no perfect reply, but there is a reply you should never say: Never admit to a weakness that will affect your ability to get the job done. If the job description requires a lot of creativity, and you say your creativity has waned lately, assume that youve taken yourself out of the running. Choose a weakness not related to the position and explain how youre working to improve it. 5. @#$%! Granted, profanity seems to be much more accepted in many workplaces today. However, an interview is not the time to demonstrate that you can talk like a pirate. 6. Just a minute; I really need to get this call. Its amazing how many hiring managers and recruiters report that interviewees answer their phones and respond to text messages during in-person interviews. Turn off your phone during interviews and you will not be tempted to reach to answer it. 7. How much vacation time would I get? Never, ever ask questions in an interview that may make it appear that youll be overly focused on anything other than work. 8. Can I work from home? Even if youre pretty sure the company has a lenient work-from-home policy, the interview isnt the best time to ask about it. 9. Family is the most important thing to me. This is true for many people. However, you do not need to explain how devoted you are to your family during your job interview. It is unlikely to win favor, even in organizations with a well-known family-friendly environment. You want your potential employer to envision you being totally devoted to his or her needs. When in doubt, pause before you say whats on your mind. If you wonder if its okay to ask, assume its better to avoid the topic altogether. photo by Enokson