Nerves can get the best of you during an interview. Anxiety
causes slips of the tongue that will leave you kicking yourself and leave
interviewers scratching their heads. Nervousness is normal, and interviewers
expect you to have jitters. But there is a line between panicking to the point
of having verbal diarrhea and a healthy does of apprehension.

The three statements below are the most common negative
statements made by interviewees.     

Negative statement #1: “I’m here to interview you as
well. I have a couple questions that I intend to ask you.”

Reason to avoid: Though it’s true that the interview should
be a two-way street, there is such a thing as being too aggressive. You will
have an opportunity to ask questions. Don’t announce your intention to do so.
It’s not necessary, and it’s bad form. Instead, simply ask questions throughout
the interview or wait until the interviewer asks if you have any questions.

Negative statement #2: “Before we go further, what is
the salary for the position? I don’t want to waste your time nor mine.”

Reason to avoid: Making this negative statement puts the
interviewer on the defensive. He’ll question your intentions and most likely go
through the formality of the interview having already eliminated your
candidacy. The statement is also a tactical error because salary is always
flexible. Requesting the interviewer reveal salary before you had the
opportunity to sell yourself will surely backfire because the interviewer didn’t
have the chance to assess your skills. If you have a notion that the may be
salary is too low, remain calm, go through the motions of the interview, and
hear want the interviewer has to say. You might be surprised by the outcome.

Negative statement #3: “I’m not sure I want this
position.”

Reason to avoid: An interview setting is not a confessional.
Your interview goal is to receive a job offer, even if you aren’t sure if you
want the job. Set aside your unenthusiastic inner thoughts, and focus your energy
on discovering information about the position and the hiring organization.

CONCLUSION

It’s fine to challenge the interviewer. However, you should
do so with finesse. Creating an uncomfortable environment will make the
interview memorable, but not in a positive way. Interviews are only as daunting
as you decide they are. With that in mind, make a conscious decision to enjoy
the process. Take in what the interviewer has to say. And don’t look for an
opportunity to pounce on his/her word.    

Nerves can get the best of you during an interview. Anxiety causes slips of the tongue that will leave you kicking yourself and leave interviewers scratching their heads. Nervousness is normal, and interviewers expect you to have jitters. But there is a line between panicking to the point of having verbal diarrhea and a healthy does of apprehension.

The three statements below are the most common negative statements made by interviewees.     

Negative statement #1: “I’m here to interview you as well. I have a couple questions that I intend to ask you.”

Reason to avoid: Though it’s true that the interview should be a two-way street, there is such a thing as being too aggressive. You will have an opportunity to ask questions. Don’t announce your intention to do so. It’s not necessary, and it’s bad form. Instead, simply ask questions throughout the interview or wait until the interviewer asks if you have any questions.

Negative statement #2: “Before we go further, what is the salary for the position? I don’t want to waste your time nor mine.”

Reason to avoid: Making this negative statement puts the interviewer on the defensive. He’ll question your intentions and most likely go through the formality of the interview having already eliminated your candidacy. The statement is also a tactical error because salary is always flexible. Requesting the interviewer reveal salary before you had the opportunity to sell yourself will surely backfire because the interviewer didn’t have the chance to assess your skills. If you have a notion that the may be salary is too low, remain calm, go through the motions of the interview, and hear want the interviewer has to say. You might be surprised by the outcome.

Negative statement #3: “I’m not sure I want this position.”

Reason to avoid: An interview setting is not a confessional. Your interview goal is to receive a job offer, even if you aren’t sure if you want the job. Set aside your unenthusiastic inner thoughts, and focus your energy on discovering information about the position and the hiring organization.

CONCLUSION

It’s fine to challenge the interviewer. However, you should do so with finesse. Creating an uncomfortable environment will make the interview memorable, but not in a positive way. Interviews are only as daunting as you decide they are. With that in mind, make a conscious decision to enjoy the process. Take in what the interviewer has to say. And don’t look for an opportunity to pounce on his/her word.