Your interview can help you secure the position of your dreams, or it can also sabotage your efforts by saying the wrong things.
In addition to having a solid resume and dressing professionally, you should be aware of what you should and shouldn’t say during your interview in order to leave a potential employer with a good impression.
Here are a few topics you should never discuss during an interview:
Complaints
Complaining about old jobs or your current position can make employers not want to hire you. You should also be careful to not complain about things such as the local traffic or parking conditions. Any type of complaining might make hiring managers believe that you possess a pessimistic attitude and are uncooperative in your work habits.
Asking About Salary and Benefits
You should never start asking questions about what your salary will be during your interview. It is also best to avoid asking about employee benefits such as life insurance or holiday pay. However, it is okay to discuss these issues if the interviewer brings them up initially. Salary is something that is typically discussed and initiated by the interviewer, but company perks and vacation time should not be brought up during the first interview.
Flexibility Issues
If you start talking about time and workday constraints, you will likely be rejected for the position. Even though you may have certain constraints, it is best to discuss these at a later time so that you and your potential employer can come to a compromise and work out a feasible work schedule.
The Desire to Advance
Even though employers like employees who are motivated and are willing to work hard to succeed, you can harm your chances of getting the job if you discuss your desire to be promoted to higher positions within the company too soon. This might give hiring managers the impression that you will not do as good of a job in the position for which you are applying. If you are looking to find sales jobs in London and fast-paced positions, it’s important to know career advancement is likely, but not something that should be discussed during the interview.
Discussing Your Nervousness
It is understandable that you will likely be nervous during your interview, and your interviewer will already know your feelings of unease. Talking about how nervous you are will only make employers believe that you are not capable of handling the job and working well under pressure. You should always portray a friendly air of confidence throughout your interview.
If you are mindful about these topics before going into your interview, you can avoid discussing these matters and have a better chance of landing the job. Following basic job interview tips will help you to be confident and do your best during the interview.
| Written on 2/24/2014 by Anita Ginsburg. |