10 Things You Should Never Say in a Job Interview

Job interviews are tough, there’s no doubt about it..!!!

But, owing to the competitive market now, it is now even tougher for job-seekers to get through interviews successfully because every word they say is put under the lens and scrutinized. Being nervous and making an error is only natural, but it depends on your recruiter as to how they interpret it – do they take it as an unprofessional act right off the bat or do they let it go. So, being prepared for the worst is the best way to go.

Here are 10 things that you should never say in a job interview:

1. “Sorry, I’m late”

Being late is a real deal-breaker for most recruiters!!

Showing up late, without informing your interviewer in advance shows that you lack respect for their time. And yes, even five minutes count as late. Be punctual to avoid apologizing right at the beginning of the conversation. If you do think you’ll be late for your scheduled interview, or that you won’t be able to join the online meeting on time, inform your interviewer beforehand and give them an explanation. In case they reschedule it, take responsibility for the delay professionally. Be sincere about it without undermining yourself with a multitude of excuses.

2. “ I don’t know” 

You can’t know the answer to every question your interviewer throws at you. But, some questions are asked not to get the correct answer out of you instantly, but to see how you work with the problem to get to the solution. Of course, you can’t make up an answer when you don’t know about it exactly, but you can link it to a similar experience you’ve had, ask for additional information or take a pause and think. Saying ‘I don’t know’ right away shows the unwillingness to trace problems and examine possible solutions. 

3. Self-Appraisal 

“I’m a team player”, “I am result-oriented”, “I am the most qualified candidate here”.

Well, if you are, then your resume would reflect it and your interviewer would know. Using self-aggrandizing phrases goes nowhere because ultimately the things you’ve done are put to the test during interviews. 

Instead of telling your interviewer that you’re result-oriented, try narrating an experience such as: “In my previous company, I was the top performer by closing 45% of the deals”. Your skills speak for themselves, so be humble and don’t compare yourself to the other candidates. Show how you’re different, instead of just saying that you’re different.

4. “There might be an error in my CV”

This one is just plain awkward. If your interviewer asks you to clarify something from your CV, and you end up saying that you don’t know about it or that you’ve “accidentally” written it, it gives an impression that there might be more incorrect things on your CV. Your CV is supposed to be 100% to your knowledge, and an erroneous one implies you’ve deliberately lied on it, which is a big no-no. 

5. “I thought I had done that?”

“I thought my phone was on silent”,” I thought that I had closed the door”, “I thought my webcam was working”

All of it should be checked beforehand. A ringing phone, disturbances during an interview without an acceptable reason, shoddy equipment, imply a poor work ethic and show your unpreparedness for the interview. If you do end up with an interruption, acknowledge it, do not pretend like it did not happen. Apologize sincerely for it and proceed with the interview.

6. Too Much Information

Some interviews take place in a casual setting, and some with the interviewer being informal with you. But it is your responsibility to showcase the best interview etiquettes, without being swayed by the environment.

It might be utterly tempting to go into detail about the condition of your car, or your financial background when you’re asked to tell them something about yourself. But refrain from doing so. Your recruiters do not need to know so much about you, and it puts them in an uncomfortable position as well. If you do have a story to share, make sure you link it to the company’s needs, or to something that your interviewer mentioned.

7. “I’ll be going for a higher education next year!” or “I am going to start a business!”

Ambitions are great. But your interviewers are likely to recruit people who want to stay in the company for a long period and not just someone who treats the position as a stepping stone in their career ladder. In this case, being completely honest just might not be the best choice.

8. Too Many Awkward Pauses

“Um”, “So, Yeah”, “Like..”

It’s alright to take a pause while answering the questions, they also symbolize the natural flow of conversation. But ending your perfect answer with a more underconfident “So… that’s it” ruins it and makes it an awkward pause. Say what you want out loud. For example, “Please give me a moment” instead of just staring blankly at the interviewer or looking around. How you communicate with them shows how confident you are about the subject and as a person.

9. “That’s a really nice tie you’re wearing”

Of course, everybody loves compliments. But, you might want to keep it in the backseat for your first interview. They might be wearing the watch you absolutely love but attempts to flatter your interviewer based on it might actually go south. Instead, if you really must compliment your employer, let them know that you admired something that they contributed to or something they did in their job. 

10. “It’s written in my CV”

Yes, they know it’s written in your CV. When interviewers ask you about something that you’ve already mentioned in your CV/resume, they’re asking for you to elaborate further on it in a way that’s different from what you’ve written in the CV. Maybe what you wrote is unclear, or maybe they want to know about it better. Saying “It’s in my CV” doesn’t help in either of these scenarios. Be polite and provide an explanation.

Conclusion

This is not an exhaustive list of things you shouldn’t say in a job interview. 

Of course, the key rules of not talking poorly about previous employers, colleagues, and team members, not swearing accidentally, and not asking about what the company does still hold. But, the 10 mentioned above should be kept in mind because these are the ones that make or break it for most candidates!!