Contents
- 1. “What does your company do?”
- 2. “What kind of work is this anyway?”
- 3. “I want to work in your position!”
- 4. «I know I’m not the most qualified employee, but…»
- 5. “Are you married?”, “How much do you get?”
- 6. «…!»
- 7. Any offensive, sexist, xenophobic statements
- 8. «You have such a smile!» / «Do you want to have lunch after?»
- 9. Negative feedback about people at a previous job
- 10. Words that this work is far from the limit of your dreams
- 11. Threats
- 12. Lying
- 13. Trying to make the interviewer feel guilty
- 14. “And how many vacation days can you take at a time?”
- 15. «I have no questions»
How many times in your life have you changed jobs? One? Five? More than ten? In the latter case, you, most likely, can write a training manual about the interview yourself. But for everyone else, especially those who are just taking their first steps in their careers, a few practical tips can come in handy.
What does it take to land your dream job—or any job at all? Be a professional? Do you have the necessary skills and experience? Write a good resume? Be persistent and get called for an interview? All this together, but not only — it is also important not to blurt out something at the meeting that will block the path to the chosen company. For example:
1. “What does your company do?”
A question like this means that you didn’t even bother to look at the employer’s website and social networks, that is, you didn’t fulfill the required minimum before the interview.
2. “What kind of work is this anyway?”
A response to a vacancy, and even more so an invitation to an interview, implies that you have become familiar not only with the requirements for the applicant, but also with potential responsibilities.
If it so happened that you, for example, go to interviews every day and forgot who you are talking to right now, you can ask the interviewer leading questions: for example, what qualities a potential successful applicant should have.
3. “I want to work in your position!”
Elementary logic works here. Look at the situation through the eyes of the interviewer — do you think it would be nice to know that the applicant wants to get your place? Unlikely.
4. «I know I’m not the most qualified employee, but…»
Upon hearing this, the interviewer may say, “Ah, not the most qualified? All the best then.» And he will be right. It is obvious that you are regarded as a potential candidate, since you were invited to a meeting, so stop self-deprecating — it does not decorate anyone.
5. “Are you married?”, “How much do you get?”
No personal questions to the interviewer and future boss.
6. «…!»
Yes, most of us use foul language at least once in a while, but even if you know for sure that the company you’re in has a fairly laid-back atmosphere, swearing in an interview is not a good idea. Whatever happens, keep your emotions to yourself.
7. Any offensive, sexist, xenophobic statements
Refrain from jokes on the verge, and from provocative statements, and from everything that can inflame the atmosphere.
8. «You have such a smile!» / «Do you want to have lunch after?»
Flirting with an interviewer is not the best idea. You met for a different reason, so don’t go overboard.
9. Negative feedback about people at a previous job
Even if you had a bad breakup with your previous employer, talk about your colleagues and manager as correctly as possible. Otherwise, you may be perceived as a gloomy, offended by life and not very professional employee.
It is better to focus on what experience you got in your last job and how it will be useful to you in a new place.
10. Words that this work is far from the limit of your dreams
Even if you understand that you are not ready to stay in this job for a long time and generally consider it solely as an intermediate stage, it is absolutely not necessary to talk about it out loud (unless the company is looking for a temporary replacement for an employee). Moreover, it is not worth spreading that you have a better option in mind, and this proposal is nothing more than a plan B.
11. Threats
Even jokes along the lines of «I’d rather get this job, otherwise I swear …» can rightly be regarded as aggressive.
12. Lying
In the case of interviews, honesty is the best possible tactic. In any case, the deception will be revealed, and you will feel stupid.
13. Trying to make the interviewer feel guilty
Do not tell the interlocutor about how hard it is for you and how much you need this job — concentrate better on your strengths, skills, and what you can bring to the company.
14. “And how many vacation days can you take at a time?”
Sure, vacations, paid days off, and free cookies are essential for most job seekers, but save questions like this for the final interview when you know you’re about to be offered. In the first stages, your task is to prove that you are the most worthy of all candidates.
15. «I have no questions»
The unwritten rule says: no matter how detailed you are told about the job and the company, you should have questions in store for the end of the conversation. According to their content, the interviewer will be able to understand how carefully you prepared for the meeting and how much you are interested in this particular job.