If you have handed in your CV to a company and you have been selected for an interview, there is something about your profile that has made the company consider you a good candidate to join their staff.

Now it’s up to you to leave a good taste in the interview so that the recruiter decides that the candidate who should fill the position being offered is you and not someone else.

Phrases you should never say in a job interview

In today’s article we have the collaboration of Jonathan García-Allen , Director of Communication of the magazine Psicología y Mente and expert in recruitment, to give you some advice that will help you not to make mistakes and maximize your chances of success.

Here is a list of phrases you should not mention in a job interview .

1. I don’t like teamwork

“One of the competencies that companies value most today is teamwork, because it fosters creativity and learning, blends complementary strengths, improves performance, reduces employee stress and increases the company’s productivity”, argues the Human Resources psychologist.

“Saying you don’t like teamwork is practically saying goodbye to the job you aspire to,” says Garcia-Allen. So don’t play games and make it clear that you consider teamwork important not only for the worker, but also for the company .

2. I know nothing about this company

“Showing up for a job interview without knowing anything about the company shows you have little interest. Today, thanks to the Internet, it is easy to obtain information about the sector in which the company operates and the product it offers,” explains the expert. If you want to leave a good image, do your research and make sure you know the basics of the organization . This way, the interviewer will know that you really want the job.

3. Any sentence that includes criticism of the previous company

“It’s not uncommon in a job interview to be asked a question or two about your old job. You shouldn’t take this as an opportunity to verbalize that resentment inside you (if you ended up badly) with phrases like -I had a bad relationship with my boss-” advises Jonathan Garcia-Allen.

You should try to give a positive image to avoid appearing spiteful and vindictive , and don’t forget that recruiters evaluate your verbal and non-verbal language during an interview, so be calm and don’t talk badly about your old job. This makes you a friendly, pleasant person and ideal for teamwork, which is what companies are looking for today.

5. I am only interested in money

It is clear that money is an important aspect when choosing a job and nobody likes to work for free, but companies value workers who are committed to the company and show interest beyond the economic .

Of course, it is also the company’s mission to offer motivating conditions to the workers. But if you are asked “Why would you like to work in this company”, you highlight other qualities of the company, those that have more to do with the emotional side of people, such as “it is a leader in its sector” or “I think I can grow and develop professionally”.

5. When will I have a vacation?

“Asking questions like when you’ll have a vacation and exposing how relaxed you’d like the office environment to be can have negatives,” says Garcia-Allen.

Although good working conditions are good for both the employee and the company, as they improve productivity, asking this question may make you look like a low-worker in the eyes of the recruiter . Show yourself as a person who is enthusiastic about being able to occupy the place of work offered and avoid giving the image of an unworking person. No recruiter wants someone who will jump at the first sign of change.

6. I have other job offers

It may seem that pretending to be interesting will attract the recruiter, but what will really catch the eye of the person interviewing you are the skills you possess for the position being offered. Saying that you have many job offers will project an image of a conceited person and may seem forced . “Just put your best foot forward and make it clear why you are the right candidate for the position you want so badly,” suggests Garcia-Allen.

7. Phrases that include lies

“Lying in an interview is not a good option . Although you can try to conduct the interview in a way that highlights the positive aspects of your person, you shouldn’t say things that aren’t true because sooner or later you might get caught,” says the psychologist.

Regarding this, García-Allen points out that “falsifying your work experience or your professional profile can lead you to look bad not only during the interview, but also at the moment of demonstrating your worth, you may not be the ideal person for the position, which is a waste of time for you and for the company”.

8. I don’t know myself

It is common during the course of a job interview for the question “What are your three strengths and weaknesses? This question, which seeks to know your qualities and degree of sincerity, must be answered.

Jonathan Garcia-Allen, explains that “Saying that ‘you don’t know yourself’ makes it clear that you are a person who has no knowledge of his strengths and has a weak personality. Self-knowledge is closely related to self-confidence and personal development, and is key to a worker’s performance. If you don’t know yourself, how do you know you want that job?

9. No questions

Although bombarding the interviewer with questions is not good, it is important to show curiosity . At the end of the job interview, the recruiter usually asks if the candidate has any more questions and if so, it is appropriate to ask them.

“Recruiters are more impressed with the questions candidates ask than with the answers they give, because for them it is also a source of information about the qualities of the candidates,” says the organizations’ psychologist. Questions such as: “I have seen your company win several awards. What gives you a competitive advantage” can show interest in the company and a desire to do well within it.

10. I was fired from my old job

Sometimes the reason for termination of contract in a company is dismissal . But if this has happened to you, it is better not to say it in those words in a job interview.

To do so, he resorts to other alternatives such as “it wasn’t what I was looking for but I learned new skills and new ways of working, so it has served me well”. As Garcia-Allen recommends: “Don’t say the word -fire-. Turn the negative around and highlight the positive, don’t lie and don’t badmouth your former employer.