Are you a fresh grad who’s looking forward to taking the next step in the adulting phase of your life or are you a working adult who’s looking for a career change in your career? In both situations, you will be called for an interview once your resume and CV have been reviewed by the company.
There are plenty of guides online regarding what you can and should say during an interview to snag the position. However, do you know what you shouldn’t say?
Fret not; read on to learn about the top 5 things you should NOT say during an interview!
1. “I hated my previous employer/company!”
Your disdain against your previous or current employer and company might be valid — maybe you’re overworked, underpaid, unappreciated, humiliated, disregarded, etc. Nevertheless, avoid badmouthing your employer and the company because it somewhat displays unprofessionalism and also puts off your potential employer from hiring you. After all, they might think that you would badmouth them at the slightest inconvenience while working. On another note, if you’re in a niche industry, it is a small world and you might end up meeting your “most-hated” employer. So, to be safe, express your emotions professionally and neutrally.
What can you say instead?
- My career vision does not align with my current/previous employer.
- I’m looking for a career change.
- My current/previous company is comfortable to work in, but I’m looking for change and growth.
2. “I don’t know…”
Once you’ve landed an interview, one of the first things you need to do is research further about the company (from LinkedIn, Hiredly, Glassdoor, etc.) and also the job scope. Apart from the description provided by the company, research the overall market and industry job scope. Even if this is not your first interview, it doesn’t hurt to be prepared with a variety of answers. Even though you may be well-prepared, there might be questions that could stump you for a moment. In those scenarios, saying “I don’t know” is usually not the best approach. It could showcase your lack of preparedness (despite the day and night preparation), taking initiative and interest in the job or the interview.
What can you say instead?
- Oh, that’s a great question actually that I did not think of! I think my answer would be…
- Rather than giving you a general industry answer, I would like to share a personal opinion of mine about that…
- If I’m being honest, that question stumped me, but I would still like to answer from my understanding/experience.
3. “I don’t have a 2-year/5-year/10-year career vision or goal.”
One of the common questions a recruiter or interviewer will ask candidates is “Where do you see yourself in the next 2 years?” or “What is your career plan for the following 5 years?”. Let’s be real — most of us don’t really have the mental capacity to plan for more than one year (what more with the pandemic making situations rather uncertain). But, avoid mentioning this in the interview because they might not care. As part of your interview prep, make sure you do have at least a 2-year plan for career growth so as to end up speechless when questioned. If you have the time, go ahead and plan for 5 years and maybe even 10 years, based on your research on the industry and niche.
What can you say instead?
- Thank you for asking that. My 2-year/5-year/10-year career plan is…
- Due to the current pandemic and economic situation, I did not plan as far as XX years, but I would be happy to share with you my 2-year/5-year career vision instead.
- Based on the current circumstances —with COVID-19 and achieving ‘endemic’ — I think having short-term goals is practical. So, I’d like to share my tentative career plan for the next 2 to 3 years.
4. “That information is already in my resume.”
Yes, most likely the questions you get during the interview would already have the answers stated in your creative resume — for example, what’s your work experience like where did you study, what are your achievements, what’s your expected salary, etc. Nonetheless, an interview session is scheduled so that interviewers can gauge your interaction skills and obtain additional information that isn’t on your resume. So, try to answer with specific examples from your work or personal experiences to prove your skills and significance to the company.
What can you say instead?
- *Explain what you have written on your resume* On top of that, I would also like to share my other achievements/certifications/skills that are relevant to this position.
- I would like to expand further on my previous employment with XXX because I’ve learnt how to…
- As mentioned in my resume, I have qualifications from XX University but recently, I signed up for an online course that enhances my skills and knowledge in this field and niche.
5. “I have no questions for you.”
At the end of all, if not most interviews, recruiters and interviewers will most likely ask if you have any questions for them about the job or the company. Do not mention the above statement at all. Always make sure to prep at least two or three questions to ask them and ensure that they are valuable questions. This would show that you are interested in the job as well as in the company. A quick online search can give you a list of questions you can jot down to answer the final question of your interview.
What can you say instead?
- May I know if the company offers upskill courses for its employees to improve themselves?
- Can you show me some examples of projects/assignments that I would be working on if hired for this position?
- If you don’t mind, can you share with me your favourite thing about working here?
Attending an interview can be daunting but with these tips, I’m pretty sure you can ace the next interview you’re heading to. Another pro tip; bring a small notebook with you during the interview to note the information from the interviewer and to write down answers/questions to help you.
All the best!
Vinothini is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav.
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