You Said WHAT? Things You Shouldn’t Say If You Want a Second Interview

Interviewing in today’s competitive job market can seem like a nightmare. With a 9.1 percent unemployment rate, an average of nearly seven applicants for every open job (and many of the popular ones receiving more than 100 submissions), landing an interview is as exciting as landing the job itself.

If you are invited to interview, you’re ahead of the vast majority of other applicants. Employers typically interview about five to seven candidates in first round job interviews, depending upon the position (and the stamina of the recruiter). Once you begin the interview, there are a variety of things you can say to prevent yourself from moving forward. Here’s what not to say if you want to make it to the next round:

1.     What are your weaknesses?

I have heard responses ranging from “I have no weaknesses,” to a more joking response of “ask my spouse.” “Don’t take this literally and go into a detailed explanation of your weaknesses,” says John Challenger, CEO of global outplacement consultancy, Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. Some experts may advise you to take a weakness and turn it into a positive or explain it away as it relates to the position. While this may seem like a good initial response, many employers can see right through it. A better response is to pick a sincere weakness and then describe what you are doing to work on it.  For example, you have trouble speaking in front of large audiences.

You may want to answer this question by saying: “I have always had a fear of public speaking and find that I am not as comfortable at it as I would like to be. To improve my public speaking skills, I joined a Toastmasters club a few months ago. After my last speech I received a lot of positive encouragement and now have much more confidence in my abilities.”

Don’t:
·         Say “I have no weaknesses”
·         Say the first thing that comes to your mind
·         Get too personal
·         List a weakness that prohibits your ability to succeed at the job you’re applying for

Do:
·         Be honest and sincere
·         Provide information on what you are doing to improve the weakness
·         Identify why your weakness won’t impact your job performance

2.     Why did you leave your last place of employment?

Sitting in a panel interview I once heard someone say “I left my last employer because I hated my manager and I didn’t get along with any of my co-workers. The working conditions were so horrible, I called the owners of the company many times to complain but they never did anything about it so I left in search of better opportunities.” Needless to say, that applicant was not called back for a second interview.

This question can be a Catch-22. On one hand, no potential employer wants to hear about your problems with another employer. Conversely, if you paint too rosy of a picture the employer will want to know why you’re leaving your present company.

You may want to answer that question by saying: “The company just wasn’t a good fit for me. One thing I learned from working for them is that organizations have distinct personalities just like people do. I now know to concentrate my job search on companies, like yours, who value independent thinking and alternative methods.”

Don’t:
·         Speak poorly of your previous employer, colleagues, or manager
·         Falsely portray your former company a fantastic place to work
·         Say you were fired

Do:
·         Describe what you are looking for in your position
·         Discuss what you learned from your last employer

3.     What are your short- and long-term goals?

This question will come at you in many forms. One is, “What do you see yourself doing in five years?” Stop and carefully consider your answer before responding. Even though you may think it, don’t answer by saying, “I don’t know,” or “That’s a good question…” (or the worst response yet, “Short-term: to get this job and get out of debt.”). Employers ask these types of questions to find out how long you intend on staying with the company.

You may want to answer this question by reiterating the objectives on your resume: “I want to secure a position with a national company and be a part of a growing firm.”

Don’t:
·         Say you don’t know
·         Tell the interviewer you want to be doing his/her job
·         Say you want to earn more money

Do:
·         Give a focused response
·         Talk about the types of skills you see yourself using
·         Talk about what you plan to bring to the employer

What was your biggest interview blunder?