Topics To Avoid In An Interview
5 Topics to Avoid During Your First Interview
Interviews can be daunting for many people, so calming any nerves and being prepared beforehand can help you perform at your best.
Being open about your experience and showing your personality can be advantageous during an interview, however, there are several topics you should avoid during the interviewing process.
Whilst some may seem obvious, it can be easy to drop them in without even thinking of the consequences, and in some cases some of these will likely be discussed during the interview process, but not straight away.
In this blog, we will highlight the main topics you should avoid speaking about to ensure you have the best chance of success in your interview.
1. Bad Experiences With a Previous Employer
You want to remain positive about your experiences and expertise, even if it wasn’t the case. It can be off-putting to the interviewer if you start explaining previous roles or other colleagues in a negative light, and may make you look unprofessional or possibly challenging to work with.
Even if you are asked questions such as “Why are you looking for a new job?” or ”What aspects would you change and do differently in this role?”, try answering them with a rational answer that has a positive twist to it.
For example, “Since working at my current role for over 5 years now and working my way up to X within the company, I am ready for a new challenge, which I believe I can experience working at this company”, or “I have always worked under other managers, but I am ready for full autonomy in this role, to prove myself and make a positive difference”.
2. Salary
If the company you are applying for have not previously enclosed the salary expectations, you should avoid asking this question until near the end of your first interview. If it’s your opening question, it could send a message to them that money is the only important thing to you, and you are not interested in finding out more about the role.
However, it may be important for your progression during the interview stage to find out about the salary, so you’re not wasting yours or their time. You could ask for a ballpark figure at the end of the interview if they don’t bring it up beforehand, to gauge you will be happy with the figure, and you wish to continue with the process.
3. Disclosing Personal Information
It may seem tempting to chat to the interviewers to showcase your personality alongside your professionalism; however, some information might be irrelevant to the responsibilities of the job role you are applying for and might make you seem like an unserious person.
Share your personality with the interviewer by being friendly, professional and highlight all your relevant skills for the position through your experience, rather than over-sharing personal details.
Also, avoid asking them personal questions for example; what their salary is, if there are any people that they don’t get on with, why a particular person has left the company etc, as this can seem intrusive and they will likely not want to disclose this information.
4. Asking about Company Benefits
This question is similar to the expected salary question, as it gives the impression of “what’s in it for me?”. Typically, companies will disclose the company benefits on offer during your initial interview, but if you wish to find out more information, you could ask about the company culture and environment.
For example, someone in HR is likely to tell you information about their benefits, which may include things such as company meals out, health plans, trips, and bonuses, at the end of the interview. If in doubt, ask about the culture rather than the benefits, or try to find information on their website.
Remember, interviewing is a two-way street, as they also want to impress you and hire someone who wants to work for them
5. Asking Questions That Show a Lack of Research
Asking simple questions about the company or the role may seem harmless, but depending on how basic they are, it may seem like you haven’t studied the job role or researched the company at all, and in turn, might make you look unserious and disinterested in the role.
For example, asking questions like “What are the main products you sell?” or “What will I be doing in this role?” might suggest you haven’t taken the time to read the job description or read their website. Interviewers will appreciate the time taken to research the company, what they do, and exactly what the job role entails will show you’re serious and want the job.
Be Prepared
Ensuring you’re fully prepared for your interview will help you to avoid feeling the need to ask these types of questions if you can’t think of any. Try to stick to asking professional questions about the job role or culture, to show your enthusiasm for working at their company.
If you need any other advice or interviewing tips, check out our other latest blogs.
If you have any further questions or need any interview help. Feel free to reach out to us and we’ll be happy to help.
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