4 Things You Should Never Say In A Job Interview

There are few moments in life when you’re under intense pressure to create a great impression. At job interviews, you need to show you’re qualified for the job, and that you’re a team player who’s easy to get along with, all while trying desperately not to say the wrong thing. To ease the pressure of your upcoming job interview, we’ve come up with this list of things you should never say. Familiarise yourself with the following faux pas, and you’ll have no trouble at all with job interview etiquette.

1. “How much will I get paid?”

While we at Conecta are huge advocates of negotiating a fair salary package with your employer before signing on, beware that money-talk too soon can give off the wrong vibe. Your interviewer may think you’re less interested in the role than you are in your wallet. If you can, leave it to your interviewer to raise the issue of remuneration. Or alternatively, wait until you’ve covered most of the essentials before bringing it up.

2. “I have no weaknesses”

Questions about strengths and weaknesses are some of the most common during job interviews, and the same goes for jobs in construction and engineering. Answering that you have no weaknesses, or that you can’t think of any, does not only sound fake, it becomes a missed opportunity to wow your interviewer. Try discussing a weakness that is not essential to the role, or one that you’ve previously identified and used specific strategies to work through. If you can answer this question honestly and constructively, you’ve passed one of the toughest questions with flying colours.

3. My last boss was an [*insert insult here*]

Even if your last boss was truly the monster you believe he or she to be, your job interview is not the time to say it! It can be tempting to bring up the subject of how bad your last boss was, especially when you expect your kinder, fairer, more reasonable new employer to sympathise. However, it’s important to remember that your interviewer is completely unbiased. They have no reason to side with you, and will probably see your bad-mouthing as a sign that you’re a difficult employee. Avoid making negative comments about your old boss, the company or the job.

4. “I don’t have any questions”

At the end of the interview, you’ll be asked if you have any questions. The wrong thing to do is to say ‘No’! To avoid finding yourself dumbstruck with nothing to say, prepare some questions before your interview, and memorise them or carry them in a notebook. If your interviewer’s been thorough, and covered just about everything, you can always enquire further as to their own role in the organisation and take an interest in their professional background.

Ready to find jobs in construction and engineering? Join Conecta today.