A job interview can be one of the most critical stages of the hiring process. It’s the best opportunity for you to showcase your finest qualities to the employer and for them to get to know you as an employee.
Searching Google for “How to prepare for an interview” will provide much knowledge and advice. Yet people still need to learn things to refrain from saying in your Canada job interview!
The content and delivery of your interview answers help an interviewer determine if you’re a strong candidate and a suitable fit for the company. In addition, you can prepare for an interview by considering the information they want to share and planning the best way to communicate your message.
Learning which words to avoid may help you impress the hiring manager and ultimately receive an employment offer. You won’t get a second chance, so here are fifteen things to refrain from saying in your next Canada job interview!
1. Asking what the organization does
While you want to ensure you have questions for the interviewer, avoid asking questions about what the organization does. You can find your answers by researching the organization and position you’re applying for.
Before your interview, research the organization’s mission and vision statements. With this step, you can ask more detailed questions about the organization, such as “What do you like best about the company?
2. Asking about benefits, vacation, and salary
An interview is your opportunity to showcase why you’re the best candidate for the position and encourage the interviewer/employer to offer you a job. If the interviewer discusses these topics, you can only ask about benefits, vacation time, and pay.
Meanwhile, it is advisable to wait until they give you a job offer so that you can negotiate. It’s usually acceptable to mention these topics briefly at the end of the interview as it doesn’t pressure the hiring manager to answer them immediately.
3. Avoid talking about your lack of experience
If you’re a recent graduate or a professional switching careers, focus on the strengths you can bring to the position. For instance, explain how your experience and skills can add value to the organization instead of focusing on weaknesses or lack of knowledge.
When answering questions about relevant experience, you can mention transferable skills beneficial to the role, such as solid communication, organization, problem-solving, and time management.
4. I’m nervous
One of the things to refrain from saying in your Canada job interview is that you are nervous. Instead, say you are excited and express it with genuine body language. They tend to look the same – unless you have a worried expression.
Saying you are excited sends a better message and changes your inner dialogue with yourself. You start to believe in the excitement and ignore the nerves. Excitement is contagious and will excite the recruiter about you, too. Just don’t be too excited!
5. Negative information about a previous boss/job
The interviewer may ask questions like, “Why do you need a new job?” or “What do you dislike about your previous position?” Answer in a manner that avoids speaking negatively about your previous employer or job.
What would you say about your new employer if you belittled your previous boss so freely? It does not matter if it is public knowledge that the person you worked for is a known menace.
There is a better way of discussing this kind of situation. Please talk about the challenges you faced and what you learned from them. If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything!
Positive answers also give the interviewer confidence that you can be an excellent addition to the company’s culture and are unlikely to speak negatively about the company.
6. I have never made a mistake in my career
Furthermore, the list of things to refrain from saying in your Canada job interview includes, never made a mistake in my entire career,” as no human being is foolproof. Your belief that you are perfect shows your inability to identify your flaws.
Also, it highlights your inability to take responsibility for your actions and address the effects, thus restricting your personal growth. You may also appear as an individual who tends to shift blame onto others and may not be an effective team player.
7. How much break do I get?
In a job interview, you must refrain from asking questions like “How many breaks do I get?” or “How many vacation days are allowed in the company?”. It would be best if you did not ask these questions at all.
Because your primary goal in an interview is to make a positive impression and secure the job offer, bringing up topics like vacation time during the initial interview stages creates the impression that you are primarily focused on your needs and desires.
Meanwhile, it may be considered a self-centered quality and could negatively affect your job offer. It is usually more appropriate to save these discussions later in the hiring process or when the employer has expressed a clear interest in hiring you.
8. I need to take this call
Big no! Your phone must be silent, without vibrating, hidden in the depth of your coat. There is a time and a place for everything. Talking with your landlord about plumbing issues or chitchatting with your friends during an interview is not the right time.
9. Thanks to me, our sales went up by like a lot
If you need specific numbers, get them before making sweeping statements about your ability. Those numbers help back up what you are saying. They give value to your work; therefore, you have to take into account the impact they can have.
10. In 5 years, I will be in your position
You may have ambitions of climbing the corporate ladder, but there are better times to be assertive about it. Talk about your goals, but tone them down if they may cause extreme stress on your interviewer’s job security. There is nothing wrong with being driven; you must watch how it makes you come across.
11. It’s on my resume
Your interviewer will most likely have read your resume, so you are being asked a question for a reason. Feel free to use this kind of question to elaborate and to provide specifics. Ensure you answer the questions you are asked as well as you can, no matter how bland you think they are.
12. I need this job, and I can do anything!
Desperation only suits some. It leaves a lasting impression and stains everything impressive you have already said. You want to ensure your interviewer knows you want the job and are excited about it, and that’s where the conversation should stop.
13. My biggest weakness is being perfect
No one believes that! Don’t make your weakness your strength. Talk about the areas you struggle with, how you work on those areas, and how you improve. That’s the part they are interested in – how you overcome challenges.
14. I don’t know
The interviewer may ask you a question you didn’t prepare for or one for which you need an answer. When you don’t know, never say you don’t know. Stop and think for a moment.
This suspense is an excellent opportunity to prove your critical thinking and problem-solving skills. You can tell the interviewer politely that you need a minute to consider your response.
On the contrary, ask them for additional information you require that will allow you to provide an accurate response.
15. I don’t have any questions.
Interviewers may ask if you have any questions near the end of the interview. You should always have questions to ask after interviewing. If it helps, write them all down while doing your research.
For instance, ask about the company’s mission statement, company culture, or your potential responsibilities. Not having any questions for the interviewer says you’re not interested enough to learn.
And if you still need to work at the company, there’s plenty to study! Prepare some thoughtful questions to ask beforehand to help finish your interview strong.
Final Thoughts
Don’t ruin a fantastic interview and job prospect with bad or provocative words. Be confident in your abilities and think before you speak. Leave a good impression on your interviewer. Keep calm, and you’ve got this!
