What to keep quiet about at a job interview?

Recruiters unanimously repeat in interviews and at master classes that they want to see among the candidates not just clones with a set of functions, competencies and experiences, but live, interesting and curious professionals. They need real individuals with their own character and their own opinion, unlike anyone else and able to bring not only professionalism to the team, but also fresh emotions and atmosphere.

And so, armed with enthusiasm and his own ideas about originality, having become pretty nervous in the corridor before the interview and finding a pleasant, inviting recruiter instead of a gloomy, skeptical shrew, the candidate begins to “give immediacy”: to give out much more information than is required of him, besides, information is not always relevant. And here, in addition to the Spanish shame (embarrassment experienced for a chatty interlocutor), the recruiter begins to have doubts that he is facing an adequate and trustworthy candidate.

What not to talk about in interviews?

Don’t call for lying to the employer during the interview: sooner or later the truth will be revealed, and the reputation will be damaged. Recommend that you leave out some details of your career path and personal life that can harm your image as an ideal candidate for the position.

1. One day jobs

It happens that people leave a new job within a week or two after hiring. For example, reality did not match expectations or the team did not like it. It’s best not to mention such “experience” in job interviews and resumes. 

If you have already indicated a similar experience in your resume and the interviewer knows about it, try to answer this question in the most positive way during the interview. For example, after being hired, you were offered a job in a company in which you had long wanted to work, and you went after your dream. It’s up to you to decide what the answer to the question will be, but you definitely can’t say at the interview that you didn’t like the team, you quarreled with the manager and burned down the office when you left.

2. Conflicts at a past job

No matter how bad your relationship with your previous boss was, don’t tell the recruiter about it. The topic of the relationship with the manager is something that you need to be silent about in a job interview. The future boss may think that later you will also speak “flatteringly” about him. And gossip about the former leader is unprofessional and ugly.

No need to lie and say that you and your ex-leader were best friends, just try to present the past experience as positively as possible and do not go into details. It’s best not to mention your relationship with your boss at all when answering the question of why you left your previous job.

3. Questions about marital status

Hope that soon all recruiters on Earth will stop asking incorrect questions about marital status and personal life, but for now there is a chance to get an interview with one of these. Remember that you have the right not to tell the recruiter why you are not married, and even more so about plans to have children. To be honest, it’s worth considering whether you even agree to work in a company that asks such questions at an interview.

If you generally like the company and are not going to leave slamming the door after a question about your personal life, think over the answer even before the interview. Do not share too personal things, leave out the details and try to push the recruiter to a different topic.

4. Problems, loans, complexes

Don’t try to make a recruiter feel sorry for an interview with stories about 5 loans and 10 kids to feed. Unfortunately, this will not help you get a job or increase your salary. Such conversations will only cause bewilderment, not compassion.

You don’t need to arrange a psychoanalysis session from the interview yet and share your complexes and insecurities with the recruiter. “I don’t know if I can do it”, “I don’t have much experience in this area”, “I really hope that I will succeed” – you can’t say this at an interview. If you are not confident in your own abilities, then the recruiter is even more so.

Don’t pretend that some interview questions like “Tell me about yourself” are a waste of time. Recruiters set them consciously, namely, they check the candidate for motivation and how he fits the company’s values. And when overly confident people come to the interview who say “you are doing some kind of primary interview that no one needs, I need to immediately go to the employer”, they do not even pass this “primary screening”.

You should always remember that with everyone you should be as tactful as possible, well-mannered, do not forget about the rules of etiquette and decency, and go through each next stage with dignity.

This is an eternal dispute: everything is there, but they will still ask about experience, education, about the company and responsibilities. The employer is interested in how you speak and how you behave, otherwise he would not waste time on an interview. If you are tired of repeating your resume word for word, take the initiative in your own hands: ask the interviewer about the future work. And then tell about yourself, but already taking into account the knowledge gained.

Earnings abroad have always been considered one of the most profitable. Salary in US dollars or euros is a great way to significantly increase capital in a short time, save money to buy a home, a car. Experience in foreign companies is a significant addition to the resume, which will directly play into the hands of employment. Finding a job abroad is not a problem, for example, on the site Layboard. The main thing is to set a goal and go for it. Choose a country, get acquainted with hot vacancies in it and the requirements for the applicant, then study the country’s legislation and start preparing all the necessary documents for leaving and legal employment.

And remember that openness and frankness are not the same thing. Although if they are excessive, they can equally harm.