If you’ve been working on finding a new job, hopefully you have some interviews scheduled within the next couple of weeks. If you do, you want to be well prepared. I know job interviews can be very nerve-wracking – but here are some tips to make the process less daunting. Use these tips and you will ensure that your next job interview is a successful one.
A truly essential tip to remember in preparation for your next job interview is what not to say.
There are several topics that will need to be discussed in the job interview process, however, there are other topics that should be left out of the interview conversation completely. Read on to identify the information you should discuss and the information you should not discuss during upcoming job interviews to ensure success.
One of the topics that you should keep out of the interview discussion is your personal life.
Really, there is no need to talk about your family or friends. If your interviewer asks you if you are a parent, you will have to decide whether you want to respond to the question – you may want to answer just as you would respond to any other questions. However, you will want to refrain from bringing up the topic yourself. It is important for you to keep your personal and professional lives separate.
Another topic to avoid is any unpleasant past job experiences.
It really doesn’t sit well with interviewers. The interviewer might wonder how you will talk about his/her company in the future. In addition, you want to refrain from divulging confidential or vital information about past employers – especially if they are considered competitors. By avoiding topics that deal with unpleasant experiences at previous places of employment, you’re taking the high road and you’re looked on more favorably than your competition if they’re willing to speak unfavorably about past employers.
Even if you had really awful experiences with your supervisors, you’re going to want to refrain from telling all.
It doesn’t matter if your boss was a real jerk and always wrong – you want to avoid bringing up any conflict. Don’t lie if you’re asked, just exercise caution, use diplomacy, and your best judgment when answering questions. That is the best way to demonstrate to prospective employers that you have respect for senior leadership.
If you were terminated from your job, you will want to be prepared to answer “why” well in advance of the interview.
In this case, you might want to discuss your options with a career coach. Generally, a good answer would probably demonstrate an applicant’s ability to make improvements/move on, and focus on how what was learned from mistakes. Certainly exercise caution during any job interviews and remember that employers generally run background checks. Get in touch with a career coach so you can develop a valid response. Use your best judgment on this and proceed with caution.
Salary is another topic that in the early stages you should stay away from discussing.
You really are on a fact finding mission in your first interview just like the employer is, so rather than discussing salary, find out all you can about the job. You really don’t know what the salary should be until you hear all of the details about the job itself. A career coach can discuss how you should proceed with salary and negotiations. Hopefully after your second or third interview if at all possible.
Avoid talking about these topics if you can. Keep in mind though that it is important to answer all questions asked during an interview. There are some questions an interviewer should not ask and you need to be prepared to respond or to address those types of questions. And, you want to be cautious with your answers to ensure you don’t divulge more information than needed. Carefully use these tips to ensure your next job interview is a successful one.
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Do you have a sense that your career could be much more? Would you like to get more support so you can achieve amazing results? Do you want solutions to your career management challenges?
Don’t delay. Get help from an interview coach!