Which words can crater your chances in a job interview?
Job interviews can naturally make most people feel uneasy. Consequently, people tend to use thoughtless, filler words unintentionally as a result of those nerves. And if the thought of being judged for every word choice adds to the stress, job seekers should practice ahead of time to make sure to avoid certain words at all costs that can instantly ruin a job interview.
It’s important to remember that job interviews are two-way streets between prospective employers and potential employees. It should provide a forum for both parties to diligently evaluate each other to determine if something is a good fit or not.
However, in most cases, job interviews boil down to whether the job seeker can make a winning first impression on their prospective employers. Saying the right things could land someone the job regardless of their resume.
On the other hand, saying the wrong things and leaving a poor impression will likely kill a person’s chances, even if someone is qualified on paper. Therefore, it is a best practice to steer clear of these seven common offenders in a job interview.
1. “Um”
Everyone is guilty of using filler words such as um, and yeah, and you know in everyday life. But it is exceptionally important during a job interview to use your words carefully and thoughtfully.
Using these filler words show a lack of consideration and confidence. They can damage your credibility and make the interviewer think you are less capable than you are. If you’re unsure about what to say next, it’s better to not fill the silence with any filler words.
Silence may actually be far better than a stream of unconsciously spoken filler words.
2. “Honestly”
Under no circumstances is it necessary to say honestly. Should your prospective employer expect everything else you’ve said thus far to be a lie? Probably not. That’s why it is a poor habit worth breaking. While you may use this word to emphasize a point in informal conversations, using it when answering interview questions can harm your chances.
Unless you want your interviewer to question your other statements, practice removing this word from your vocabulary ahead of time. The last thing you want is to undermine your own competence based on a poor choice of word.
3. “Literally”
If you know someone who overuses this word, then you already know how annoying it sounds. You can now imagine how your interviewer feels when you use it in every other sentence. Literally also has cousins, which can be equally annoying. These include basically, really, and actually. Aim to use high quality, power words in place of these overused adverbs.
4. “Like”
Like is yet another filler word. It’s one of those words that you don’t realize how awful it sounds until you hear someone else overusing it. It is a word that people tend to use to bridge their thoughts in an unskillful way.
Connecting your thoughts is important, but you need to be intentional about the way in which you do so. While you don’t want to sound pretentious, you do want to incorporate words with substance in order to demonstrate certainty, credibility, and confidence.
5. “Maybe”
Winning the heart of your interviewer has much to do with demonstrating confidence. On top of your body language, your utterances must demonstrate pure confidence and nothing short of that.
The word maybe denotes uncertainty; it means you’re unsure of what you’re saying. This is the last thing you want to portray in an interview. When you use maybe, the interviewer may be tempted to conclude one thing: you’re second-guessing your ability to deliver, or you’re not really interested in the job.
6. “No”
Rarely is it appropriate to only say no as an answer to a job interview question, unless, of course, you’re being asked a close-ended question. It is a much better practice to expand on your answer as a way to explain your thought process. No can come off too sharp and can leave something to be desired.
Elaborate on your answer to demonstrate your behavioral skills. For example, if your interviewer asks you if you have experience in something you don’t, you could say, No, but I’m interested in that. Is there on-the-job training? Will there be upskilling opportunities for me?.
7. “Hate”
Hate is a cringeworthy word, rightfully so. It sounds poorly educated and there’s usually not a good reason to use such a word during a job interview. Your interviewer could be turned off by it since it might imply that you harbor strong negative feelings, which may hamper the company’s culture, especially if the interviewer expects you to work with a team.
The Takeaway
Words matter. In order to communicate effectively, practice removing filler words and be intentional about the words you choose, even if you need to pause before answering. Remember to avoid the urge to fill the silence and use strong, power words when they apply.
No matter how minor it may seem, details make a difference in a job interview and word choices can alter the outcome significantly, which matters especially when you’re in a pool of qualified candidates and the interviewer is looking to narrow down the finalists.
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