WORDS THAN NEVER SAY IN
A PERSONAL INTERVIEW
Um...
The biggest problem with this
word is that you’re probably
unaware of how much you
use it.
Unfortunately, this makes you
look less polished
during a job interview.
Perfectionist
This is the most popular
among overused,
meaningless clichés.
These days, any interviewer worth
their salt will see through this ploy
and cringe on the inside at your
answer (and maybe on the outside, as
well).
Kinda.
Kind of; somewhat… Not only does
this word make you sound like a
teenager, it also introduces
vagueness into your answers. … To
make sure you come across confident
and mature, replace “kinda” with clear
“yes” or “no”. Follow your answer with
a clear reason why you’ve taken that
position.
Basically
It’s tempting to use this word as a
prelude to your achievements. For
example, “Basically, I was
responsible for flying the capsule to
the Moon and back.”
Unfortunately, doing this also
diminishes you.
Hate.
Nobody likes a hater. When a hiring
manager or recruiter hears you say
that word, they hear “high risk
candidate”.
Avoid aiming this word at anyone or
anything during your job interview.
This includes “pet hates”, as well as
feelings towards companies, ex-
colleagues and – especially – bosses
you’ve had.
Sure
It’s tempting to use this word to
communicate “it’s almost a yes.”
However, doing this also chips away at
your ability to appear confident. Just as
with “Kinda” above, it’s best to remove
any ambiguity about where you stand.
Use a firm “yes” or “no” instead,
expanding on your position if necessary
by providing reasons and examples.