7 Ways On How To NOT Talk Yourself Out Of A Job

Mistake. (Photo credit: rob_pym)

by Zulfah Abrahams

“The greatest mistake you can make in life is continually fearing that you’ll  make one.” – Elbert  Hubbard

 

Do not clutter your interview with contradictory or unwanted info or with irrelevant skills and experience. This is when saying too much could hurt your chances of securing that job.

Diverging too personal details may create the wrong impression and make the interviewer rethink your suitability for a position at their company. So too is badmouthing your previous employer. Fortunately there are steps to take to ensure you do not talk yourself out of that job.

Most job seekers think that as long as they keep talking during the interview they present the best picture of themselves. It may come as a surprise, but it is just as easy to talk yourself out of a job as it is to talk yourself into one.

A well-organized mind does not ramble on and answers are kept relevant and concise.

Here are 7 ways on how to not talk yourself out of a job:

Always, always answer the question at hand. If asked about yourself, talk about the person you are, your interests and your likes. Point out your positive attributes. Do not talk about who your latest conquest is, who you are divorced from or go into details of your medical history.

Try to keep your answers short especially to open-ended questions; and if the interviewer needs more information then you can elaborate further. Open-ended questions should always be answered with the offer of a short version first.

Know your CV. It is common to find candidates who forget to familiarise themselves with their CV’s before an interview and then forget to elaborate on an area of expertise or to relate important relevant experience gained.

Be attentive to the language you use. Strive for using positive sounding words whenever possible. And pay attention to your own body language. Do not slouch always sit up straight with arms and legs uncrossed and maintain eye contact.

Never bad mouth your current or previous employer. This is important in not only focusing on the positive but it gives the prospective employer a good idea of what you are like in terms of personality.

Interviews are highly stressful situations. Unfortunately such stress can affect short-term memory. It is very easy to waffle when under a stressful situation and you may end up talking yourself into a corner.

Reread the job specifications before going for the interview so that you are well prepared to talk about the exact experience and skills that match the vacant position. The skills and experience you talk about should relate to the position you are applying for. The better you know your CV, the better your chances of selling your achievements and attributes.

The longer you keep talking, the more in danger you are of saying the wrong thing and eliminate yourself from the candidate list. Rather ask questions about the job and company which indicates your genuine interest in wanting the job.

Remember the interview is a selection tool that should promote your chances of securing the job.

Need more strategies for your next interview? TopCV recommends When Can You Start? Ace The Interview and Get Hired