Things You Should Never Say during an Interview

When interviewing you should never say you are a procrastinator.  To a hiring manager or recruiter even saying that you procrastinate from time-to-time will trigger them to think you are not going to be able to meet deadlines.   It will also lead them to think that when your boss gives you an assignment, you may leave it to the last minute and the final work will be poor quality.  If you say you procrastinate those interviewing you will know that eventually there will be a time where you let something go too long and you will prevent your boss from meeting one of his deadlines and that will reflect bad on him.

Another thing you should never say in an interview is anything dealing with salary or how much you will be paid.  Unless the interviewer brings it up specifically in the interview, it is not the right time to discuss compensation.  Concentrate on doing the best you can in the interview and that will hopefully lead to that discussion after you get an offer.  Leaving that topic until after you get an offer also prevents you from giving the impression that money is your motivating factor for wanting the job. 

Lastly, you should never bring up a time when you failed at something.  Everyone knows we all have times when we fail at something.  And sure, the interviewer might ask you a direct question about a time when you failed at something; if they do be honest and answer it.  But there is no need to bring up a failure in an interview unless you have to.  There are people out there that believe that if they bring up one of their failures but then explain what they learned from it -- this is good; if the interviewer asks you directly about a failure you should do just that.  However, there is no need to bring any negative story about yourself into the interview unless you’re directly asked to do so.  Keeping things positive and upbeat gives you the best chance at leaving them with a positive impression and those are the people most likely to get a job offer.

Mark Lyden

DoThisGetHired.com

Mark Lyden is the author of a number of books: College Students: Do This! Get Hired!; Veterans: Do This! Get Hired!; and Professionals: Do This! Get Hired! (Coming Summer 2011).  A substantial portion of the proceeds from book sales are donated back to charity to help veterans and to help the stray and abandoned animals at Logan’s Run Rescue.