Interviews can be stressful. Nerves alone can cause you to answer questions in ways you might regret.
That’s why it’s important to prepare. As you do your homework on the company, using sites such as Comparably to educate yourself about the company and the salary you can expect to earn, spend some time thinking about how you’ll respond to some commonly asked interview questions.
Think big and be creative, but whatever you do, don’t say any of the following three phrases:
“I hate/hated my boss.”
Plenty of people feel this way, but that doesn’t mean it’s acceptable to say so in an interview. The message it sends to an interviewer is that you — not your boss — may be the real problem. An interview shouldn’t be the place to air your complaints, however valid those complaints may be. The whole vibe it sends is that you’re a negative and unprofessional person — two traits that are undesirable in any industry or job role. If you’re asked why you want to leave your company, and your boss is the reason, offer a broader, more optimistic view — something like “I’ve learned a lot in this job but want to move on to new challenges.”
“How much will I get paid?”
Compensation is important, but it shouldn’t be mentioned by you first. Let your employer tell you about what the job pays; it’s common for them not to bring it up in your first interview, but as you’re called back for second or third interviews, they’ll likely bring it up. If they don’t, be respectful in how you ask — say something like “I’m wondering what the compensation might be for this role? Just want to get a better idea so that I have all the pieces in place.”
Related: What It’s Like to Interview at the Amazon, Apple, Google, Facebook and Microsoft
“I was fired because…and…and…and…”
Being fired from a job is one of the things people feel most uncomfortable discussing during job interviews. If asked why you were fired, state the reason simply and succinctly and try to steer the conversation to a better place. You don’t have to belabor how sorry you are for what you did, but you shouldn’t deflect the situation entirely either. Acknowledge any wrongdoing but put it in the past: “I was in the wrong job skills-wise and realized it too late; I won’t make that mistake again” or “At the time I was dealing with certain personal problems that I let interfere work life. Things have since been resolved, and I’m ready to hit the ground running.”
With a bit of practice (and a good night’s sleep), you’ll be ready to handle whatever comes your way.
