5 Words That You Should Never Say at a Job Interview

It’s never easy getting ready for a job interview. You go through the drill of reading p about the company, practising all likely questions, planning what to wear, yet when the time comes, you feel you could have done better. No matter how much you prepare, you still experience a little anxiety before stepping into the room. 

However, there are certain tips and tricks that can help you put your worries to rest and perform better at the interview. To Start off with there are certain “overused buzzwords” that you shouldn’t use as that would make you sound the same as the others being interviewed for the same position. Do keep in mind that you need to stand out and not blend in. Anamika Yaduvanshi, life coach, counsellor and motivational speaker, says, "Every job interviewer is looking for the employee who is a perfect fit for the job. Thus, choice of words is of supreme importance lest you are ready to take chances based on your other attributes only.” She suggests five such words and their suitable replacements

‘We’ versus ‘I’ : While using “we” may communicate your tendency to take shelter in a group but it might not convey your capability. In contrast only ‘I’ may communicate your lack of capacity to work with others. So, if you are in the sales team, do not say “I was the top ranking sales executive of the company”, instead say, “I was the top sales executive in the company as I exceeded my targets”. This statement gives an idea that you are a performer and also a team player.

‘I Know’ versus ‘I’m data driven’: Do not bluff that you know unless you have strong data or facts to support a statement. If you claim you know things, the interviewer might ask you to explain in detail or cite examples, do not create a sticky situation for yourself. When you support a statement with adequate date or proven statistics, you are more likely to create a good impression.

‘Sure’ versus ‘Potential’: Rather than answering in single words like “sure” or “yes” when they ask you if you can meet the targets expected from the particular job profile, tell them why you think you can achieve the goals. Tell them about your previous achievements and how those will help you reach your targets. This way you let your interviewer know more about your traits that aren’t mentioned in your resume.

‘Don’t Know’ versus ‘Need a Minute’ : While the first answer may reflect your lack of preparation and confidence, the second will reflect on your critical thinking ability. While at it, you may ask for some additional information required for an apt response.

‘Learn’ versus ‘Explore’ : Avoid phrases like ‘I’m here to learn/ I’m a quick learner or I will be keen to learn...’ when asked about skills beyond your work profile. Companies look for accountability, so this could be a trick question. So rather than impulsively responding that you are willing to learn, you may say that you are willing to explore if it is conducive. You communicate your openness to learn as well as let them know that you are cautious about being accountable and do not bluff or set unrealistic goals.