8 Things Not to Say during a Job Interview

The goal of your job interview is to convey to the hiring manager that you’re the best person for the job. Regardless of your skills, personality and experience, the things you actually say during your interview could either make or break your candidacy for the opportunity. You want to be remembered as the most professional and qualified candidate, so avoid these eight slip-ups that rub interviewers the wrong way:
Swear Words
Swear words have a nasty habit of slipping into conversations, but do your best to avoid uttering one. Nothing looks more unprofessional than a swearing job candidate.
Clichés, Buzzwords or Jargon
Clichés, buzzwords and jargon are next to meaningless to your hiring manager, because these phrases are either overused or your hiring manager has no idea what you’re talking about. Just talk about your real experience with detailed examples; don’t overdo it with seemingly “fancy” language.
Negative Remarks about Former Employer
Other than swearing, what’s another mark of an unprofessional job candidate? Someone who trash talks former employers. If you did not like your previous job, still keep your tone positive, or neutral at the very least.
Anything that Makes You Look Unprepared
Every job candidate is expected to research the company before an interview, and if you’re someone who takes that seriously and puts in a lot of effort, don’t spoil it by asking obvious questions. A good rule of thumb is if you could learn about something on a company website, don’t ask about it during an interview. You don’t want your hiring manager to think you’re unprepared!
Humblebrags
What’s a humblebrag? It’s showing fake modesty when really talking yourself up. Example: “My biggest weakness is that I’m a perfectionist!” *Eye roll*
Humblebrags are annoying to interviewers. Yes, you want to speak positively during your interview, but you still need to be genuine.
Brag-Brags
Additionally, interviews are an opportunity to “sell yourself” as the best candidate for the role, not to brag about every achievement. Only speak about your accomplishments when they’re appropriate or relevant during the interview; don’t plug them in everywhere.
Filler Words
We all have been guilty of using filler words, such as “um” or “like.” Drastically limit your use of these words during your job interview, as they can make you seem unprofessional and unprepared.
“No, I don’t have any questions.”
Always have questions for your interviewer. Period. Not asking questions makes you seem disinterested and disengaged.
All of these mistakes are easy to avoid with a little job interview preparation. So not only should you keep these in mind, you should find a trusted friend or mentor and hold practice interviews to build up your confidence.
Have a tip or additional advice? Leave us a comment!