3 Things You Should Never Say in an Interview
By Lynn King
Selling yourself in an interview is challenging. For most of us, the anxiety of having to answer a lot of questions on the spot can be overwhelming. In today's job market, the pressure is even greater with so much competition for every open position. Prepare for your next potential job knowing these 3 things you should never say during an interview.
1. "I can't, I don't, I've never..."
Sometimes when we are asked direct questions, we're tempted to answer with what we're not able to do or what we've not had experienced with in the past. The problem with stating things in the negative is that it leaves a certain impression with the person interviewing you. The belief starts to develop that you not capable of something or do not have the necessary skills. For example, if you're asked if you have ever supervised people in your past positions and you haven't...resist the urge to say "I've never been a manager." Instead, tell them something you have done that is relevant like "I have trained and mentored new employees, even when my formal title was not manager." This keeps the interviewer focused on things you have accomplished and skills you have - instead of experience you may be lacking.2. "I hate ..., I don't like..."
Most interviewers will ask some version of the question "What don't you like about your current job?" Avoid starting your answer with phrases like "I don't like..." or "I hate..." We all have aspects of our job that are not our favorite things to do and that's ok. Start out by saying what you really do like and then what you have to sometimes work harder to accomplish. For example, if you like a job that is fast paced and get bored when things are slow, try responding with "I enjoy a fast paced environment and tend to find it more challenging if I don't have enough to do." This keeps the interviewer focused on what you enjoy instead of what you don't like. If you start to answer that question with "I hate it when it gets slow at work and I get bored," it can easily come across like a complaint and may even sound like you don't know how to keep yourself busy. Address these kinds of questions in terms of what you do enjoy and what you find more challenging. Take it a step further by adding how you deal with tasks/responsibilities you don't like in a position that make you successful (i.e. "If things start to get slow at work, I go to my manager and ask what I can do to help others.").3. "I didn't like my last manager, My last manager was terrible..."
Potential employers are always interested in knowing why you left past positions and how you viewed management. Most of us have had at least one experience in our work lives where we asked ourselves "How did this person EVER become a manager?" There are a fair number of inexperienced, poor managers out there. However, discussing them with your next potential manager is NOT a good idea. If you do start talking about problems with managers in your past, the interviewer is likely to start wondering what it is about you that makes it difficult for you to get along with managers. No matter how right you are about a past manager, it is likely to come across as a poor reflection on you and your communication and relationship skills. When your interviewer asks in that sensitive and compassionate way what your past managers were like, avoid the temptation to share all of the injustices you suffered at the hands of one of those less than perfect managers, and leave that experience in the past - where it belongs. It is appropriate to share how you have adapted if you've been in difficult work environments or how well you get along with people at all levels of a company.If you follow this advice and never say these 3 things during an interview, you will avoid some of the most common mistakes people make. Stay focused on what is positive about your skills and your experience and avoid the traps of negative responses during your interview. You will be more confident knowing what not to say and be better able to focus on your abilities.
For help preparing for you next interview, contact Coach Lynn King at Access Coaching & Training. Lynn is a professional certified coach that will partner with you to unlock your potential!
Lynn King
Coach/Trainer
Access Coaching & Training
lynn@accesscoaching.com
919-676-0626
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