10 Phrases You Should Never Say In A Job Interview, According To Experts
If you have submitted your Curriculum Vitae to a company and they have selected you to attend an interview, there is something about your profile that has made the company consider that you are a good candidate to join their staff.
Now it’s up to you to leave a good taste in your mouth during the interview so that the recruiter decides that the candidate who should fill the position being offered is you and not someone else.
In today’s article we have the collaboration of Jonathan Garcia-Allen Communications Director of Psicología y Mente magazine and expert in personnel selection, to give you some advice to help you avoid making mistakes and maximize your chances of success.
Below we show you a list of phrases you should not mention in a job interview
1. I don’t like teamwork
“One of the skills that companies value most today is teamwork, because it promotes creativity and learning, mixes complementary strengths, improves performance, reduces worker stress and increases the company’s productivity,” argues the psychologist, expert in Human Resources.
“Saying that you don’t like teamwork is practically saying goodbye to the job you aspire to,” says García-Allen. So don’t risk it and Make it clear that you consider teamwork to be important not only for the worker, but also for the company
2. I don’t know anything about this company
“Appearing at a job interview without knowing anything about the company shows that you have little interest. Nowadays, thanks to the Internet, it is easy to gather information about the sector in which the company operates and what product it offers,” explains the expert. If you want to leave a good image, Do your research and make sure you know the basics of the organization This way, the interviewer will know that you really want the job.
3. Any phrase that includes criticism of the previous company
“It is common for a job interview to ask you one or two questions about your old job. You should not take this as an opportunity to verbalize that resentment you carry inside (if it ended badly) with phrases like -I had a bad relationship with my boss-” advises Jonathan García-Allen.
You should try to give a positive image to avoid appearing resentful and vindictive , and don’t forget that recruiters evaluate your verbal and non-verbal language during an interview, so be calm and don’t badmouth your old job. This makes you a kind, pleasant person and ideal for working as a team, which is what companies are looking for today.
5. I’m only interested in money
It is clear that money is an important aspect when choosing a job and no one likes to work for free, but Companies value workers who are committed to the company and show interest beyond the economic
Logically, it is also the company’s mission to offer motivating conditions to workers. But if they ask you “Why would you like to work for this company?”, highlight other qualities about it, those that have more to do with the emotional side of people, such as: “it is a leader in its sector” or “ I believe I can grow and develop professionally.”
5. When will I have a vacation?
“Asking questions like when you will have vacation and explaining how relaxed you would like the work environment in the office to be can have negatives,” says García-Allen.
Although good working conditions are good for both the employee and the company, as they improve productivity, Asking this question can make you look like a hard-working person in the eyes of the recruiter Show yourself as a person who is enthusiastic about being able to occupy the workplace that is offered and avoid giving the image of a hard-working person. No recruiter wants someone who runs away at the first opportunity.
6. I have other job offers
It may seem that acting interesting is going to attract the recruiter, but what is really going to attract the attention of the person interviewing you are the skills you have for the position being offered. Saying you have a lot of job offers will project an image of a stuck-up person and may seem forced “Simply present your best version and make it clear why you are the ideal candidate to fill that position that you so desire,” suggests García-Allen.
7. Phrases that include lies
“Lying in an interview is not a good option Although you can try to direct the interview in a way that highlights the positive aspects of yourself, you should not say things that are not true because sooner or later they can catch you out,” the psychologist tells us.
Regarding this, García-Allen points out that “Falsifying your work experience or your professional profile can make you look bad not only during the interview, but when it comes to proving your worth, you may not be the right person for the position, which which is a waste of time for you and the company.”
It is common for the question to appear during a job interview: “What are the three virtues and defects you have?” This question, which aims to know your qualities and your degree of sincerity, you must answer.
Jonathan García-Allen explains that “Saying that ‘you don’t know yourself’ makes it clear that you are a person who is not aware of your strengths and has a weak personality. Self-knowledge is closely related to people’s self-confidence and personal development, and is key to worker performance.” If you don’t know yourself, how do you know you want that job?
9. I have no questions
While bombarding the interviewer with questions is not good, it is important to show curiosity At the end of the job interview, the recruiter usually asks if the candidate has any more questions and in this case it is appropriate to ask them.
“Recruiters are more impressed with the questions that candidates ask than with the answers they give, since for them it is also a source of information about their qualities,” says the organizational psychologist. Questions like: “I’ve seen that your company has won several awards. What gives you a competitive advantage?” They can show interest in the company and desire to do well within it.
10. I was fired from my old job
Sometimes, the reason for terminating a contract in a company is dismissal But if this has happened to you, it’s better not to say it with those words in a job interview.
To do this, resort to other alternatives such as “it wasn’t what I was looking for but I learned new skills and new ways of working, so it has been useful to me.” As Garcia-Allen recommends: “Don’t say the word -dismissal-. Turn the negative around and highlight the positive, don’t lie and don’t speak badly about your previous company.”
