When preparing for important and formal job interviews, we search for questions we are most likely going to be asked for and try to find the most breath-taking and smartest answers to impress our recruiter. What we rarely pay attention to is how we say things in order to not sound unprofessional or how we answer certain questions that might make us come across as rude.
What you say and how you say it will help the recruiter determine if you are a good fit for the vacancy. In addition, how you dress, your facial expressions, and other personal factors can also influence the decision. So if your interview is going to be carried out through a video call, you will want to make sure you master your first remote interview by knowing how to set up the right background, lighting, etc., as well as the common questions you’re going to be asked.
Whether it’s face-to-face or through a video call, this is what NOT to say in your first job interview.
- Answer a question with: ‘It’s on my CV’
The whole point of interviews, besides proving you have enough experience for the vacancy, is showing your personality. And you can show it off by providing details and your opinion on your job experience like how happy you were when you got offered project A to work on and so on. If the answer to a question is on your CV, it is likely the recruiter is simply looking for more details. Questions about your resume should be easy to answer, and a perfect opportunity to stand out, show the skills you have and prove you have the personality and traits the company is looking for!
- Not know what the company does
You won’t make a good impression if you ask the interviewer ‘what does the company do?’. Knowing about the company you’re willing to work for should be the first step when preparing for your interview. Of course, there are always ways to handle questions you don’t know how to answer, but this is a basic one pretty much everyone gets asked about. So make sure you google the company beforehand and know what they do and some background information like who founded it and when.
- Talk resentfully about a previous employer or company
Some of the questions you might be asked in the interview are ‘Why are you looking for a new job’ or ‘What didn’t you like about your previous job’. It is hard to get carried away and start naming a few of the things you weren’t comfortable in your previous job. But being rude and harsh about a company will come across as unprofessional. The recruiter might even think you’re not a good fit for the company’s culture and thus not hire you for the position.
Your answer to these questions could be something along the lines of ‘whilst I really enjoyed my previous job, I want to improve my skills furthermore and aim for a different/higher position’. Anything positive to give the interviewer confidence you can remain professional regardless of the situation.
- End the interview with: ‘I don’t have any questions’
Towards the end of the interview, the recruiter might ask you ‘Do you have any questions for me?’. Your answer to it will be a critical part of the conversation and the final decision to hire you or not, so resist the temptation to respond ‘I don’t have any questions’. This question is a way for the interviewer to see how invested you are in the company and your position after this 20/30-minute meeting. A few of the questions you can go for are: ‘What does the typical day look like for a person in this position?’ ‘Do you enjoy working here?’ ‘Do you have any concerns about my experience or skills?’ A well-thought question will be your last chance to make a memorable last impression!
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
LinkedIn
RSS