Being in the world of talent acquisition for more than six years, you learn a lot from people you interview. As talent consultants one of the things we do is coach people how to interview, which means giving feedback on what to say, and not to say. Below are a few things that we suggest NOT to say before or during an interview.
1. “I’ll do anything”: This response typically comes after a question is asked about what someone wants to do in regards to a role. This ambiguous response leads me to believe that you have either not thought about your career goals, you haven’t discovered your strengths, you are desperate for a job, or that you are over confident that you will be successful in any role. There are few people that we have met in an organization that can truly do any position. Even if you are at a crossroads in your career, and aren’t sure which direction to take, do some research and come prepared to an interview. If you don’t know what type of position you are looking for how do you expect an employer to hire you?
2. “I’m flexible with money”: People are often fearful that if they put a dollar figure on what they are looking for, they will be disqualified for a job. If you truly are open to taking less money than what you made in the past, reveal what you have made and why you are OK with taking less. There are also people out there who simply do not want to say what they have made, and by doing this you run the risk of wasting everyone’s time. If you get to the finish line and an offer is presented, you could be very disappointed when an offer doesn’t come close to what you were expecting. It’s fair to say that most people can be flexible depending on the opportunity, but everyone’s definition of “flexible” varies. My advice is to be transparent, and truly understand where you need be financially before you advance in the hiring process.
3. “Should I bring a resume?”: The answer is always yes, and bring extra copies. The person interviewing you may or may not print them, and you don’t want to run the risk of not having one. Your first impression needs to be remarkable! Not appearing to be prepared doesn’t make you stand out from the other 10 people they met last week.
4. “What does your company do?”: This is a sure way to embarrass yourself! Especially when the internet makes it easy to learn about businesses. If a website doesn’t really help paint a story for you acknowledge what you did research, and ask questions that show you did some homework before coming to the interview. Employers want to hire people who are passionate about their company, not someone who is just looking for a paycheck.
5. “I understand what you are going through”: You may have a similar experience as the person you are interviewing with, but until you walk in their shoes you can’t really say that you truly understand. You may come off as arrogant even though you are trying to communicate your similar experience. Instead, tell them you appreciate what they have done because you have had something similar happen to you.
The main lesson of it all is simply to be transparent, prepared, and confident. A lot of people let nerves take over, which can lead to fast talking and saying things you don’t mean. Take a breath, slow down, and think before you speak. You will do great!
As Talent Acquisition Manager, Jessica focuses on finding the right candidates to fit our clients’ needs. She works with our clients to understand the exact skills and attributes that would fit with the cultural climate and their environment.
