If there’s one place where every single word counts, it’s a job interview. Eric Yaverbaum, CEO of Ericho Communications, has interviewed thousands of job candidates during his 40-plus year career as a public relations expert and he says even one bad answer could ruin your chance of getting hired. That’s because interviewers tend to make snap judgements about candidates, so saying anything that comes across as “arrogant, uninterested or weak” can wreck a first impression.
Yaverbaum says these are three phrases to avoid in order to boost your chances of getting a job offer and what to say instead.
- “I feel very strongly about …” - The downside to this one is that asserting a strong opinion on a subject means you’ll instantly be seen as “inflexible” or difficult to work with. Instead say, “I’m always interested in learning about how companies approach (insert topic). How does it work here?” According to Yaverbaum, this is “far less aggressive” and shows you’re a “curious, open-minded individual.”
- “I read all about your company” - While it seems to show your interest, this expert says it sets you up for failure because it’s a “gross exaggeration” and it can make you seem overconfident and insincere. So instead, bring up a specific detail about the company from your research, like, “I saw what your CEO said about Super Bowl advertising in her last newsletter and thought her insights were really interesting.”
- “I don’t know” - We’ve all been stumped by an interview question and this may be your knee-jerk response, but it shows the interview that you’re inexperienced or unprepared, Yaverman says. When you don’t know the answer, say something like, “That’s a really interesting question. Give me a minute to think about that.” Being calm, confident and pausing before answering a tough question gives you more time to come up with a thoughtful response and it tells the interviewer that you’re comfortable with problem solving.
Source: CNBC
Scott's Thoughts:
- No wonder I didn’t get all those jobs I interviewed for!
- I think people need to be themselves in an interview. Be honest!
- I have had a few interviews that didn't go well.