Knowing what not to say in an interview can help you land your dream job!

One of the most important things you can do when you're trying to land a new job is to practice your interview skills. After all, there's nothing more important than ensuring that you make the best possible first impression on employers. To do that, you need to make sure that you not only know how to answer interview questions but also know what not to say in an interview.

In this article, we'll explain why you need to avoid common boring interview responses and other answers that may put your candidacy at risk. We'll also explore some of the most common responses you should never say in an interview.

Related reading: Make the Perfect First Impression With Your Resume

Why do you need to know what not to say in a job interview?

Most interview advice focuses on teaching you how to answer questions that may arise during your job interview. That preparation can help you feel more comfortable during the meeting by enabling you to provide more effective responses to the interviewer's questions. However, it's also vital to recognize the things you should never say in a job interview so that you don't raise any red flags that might put your candidacy at risk.

These bad responses can include:

  • Boring statements the interviewer has heard a thousand times before from other job seekers

  • Comments filled with negativity

  • Statements that suggest that you're ill-prepared for the interview or the job

Related reading: How to Respond to “Tell Me About Yourself” During a Job Interview

Things not to say in an interview

“I'm a fast learner.”

While this sounds like a positive thing to say, it actually ranks near the top of any list of what not to say in an interview. When job seekers talk about how quickly they can get up to speed in a new role, they're essentially acknowledging they're not ready for the position. By highlighting your ability to learn the job, you're saying the employer will need to invest valuable time and resources to get you ready. Who wants to hire someone they have to train from the ground up?

Of course, this doesn't mean you should lie to the hiring manager. If you don't know something, don't pretend otherwise. If you do, that deception will come back to haunt you – because employers always learn the truth eventually. Instead of lying, try to compensate for your lack of experience and knowledge by providing an example of how you're already making strides to master this area. Let them know you are actively advancing your abilities. For example:

“My current position doesn't directly involve community management. However, I've analyzed your company's social media activities, as well as the competition, and determined…”

“I haven't had the opportunity to use WordPress as a blogging platform. But I've used [comparable platforms] and realized that many platforms have universal capabilities.”

Related reading: Learn How to Answer Interview Questions with the STAR Method

“I developed a synergistic and agile marketing solution for local B2B clients.”

You don't want to be too bland in your word choice, but that doesn't mean you should get carried away with jargon and cliches. Some of the most common language and interview buzzwords can hurt just as well. Remember, your answers need to be crafted to impress the interviewer. If you just sound like you're regurgitating jargon, hiring managers will roll their eyes and send you packing.

Still, buzzwords and jargon are necessary in most industries. Using concrete words that describe qualifiers and actual processes in your interview will create a lasting impression. Just make sure you practice your answers and refine them so they describe actual achievements and contributions. In other words, use language that helps show your accomplishments and contributions, not just your capabilities.

“As marketing specialist for ABC Corp., I increased brand awareness by 20 percent, using marketing campaigns to promote our newest product.”

“During my first year at XYZ, I rectified more than 300 aged account receivables by implementing custom-built collection methods and timetables for collections.”

Related reading: Top 35 Situational Interview Questions and How to Answer Them the Right Way

“I like to think outside the box.”

Employers love candidates who think outside the box. Just don't come out and say it directly. Most employers have heard this phrase so often they'll just assume you're telling them what they want to hear. Moreover, hiring managers want to hear real examples they can see and measure, not generic words that just make unfounded claims.

Before sitting down for the interview, choose three of your best contributions. 

  • Maybe you increased sales by developing a unique sales pitch. 

  • Or you may have decreased overhead by suggesting innovative methods to combine tasks and services. 

Practice explaining these accomplishments. Each description should be no more than two sentences that tell a simple story. Remember, too many details are a common interview mistake and just as bad as using bland, generic statements.

“In my previous role, I consistently developed new ways to engage customers to provide feedback on our services. One way I did this was to [describe your actions and the results]”

“Last summer, I analyzed wasted manpower and developed methods to combine schedules and tasks, improving efficiency and productivity by 33%.”

“I'm highly motivated and a self-starter.”

This falls in the “best left unsaid” category. After all, every candidate should be motivated. When hiring managers hear these types of claims, they'll often give you the “so what?” expression and wait to hear you back the claim up with proof. That's because they know these types of statements are filler and fluff candidates use when they don't know what to say or how to answer. Don't fall into this trap.

Instead, think about accomplishments and contributions that show you go beyond your job duties to help promote the company. This is the time to show initiative by illustrating your motivations with tales of measurable achievements. If you need help identifying those accomplishments, ask your co-workers to cite some examples of your job highlights. People tend to notice when you go beyond your calling.

“Team members needed a way to express their needs and spread interdepartmental news. I founded the internal newsletter to help teams better accomplish their goals.”

“My previous employer kept snacks and drinks in the breakroom for employees to enjoy. Each week, I noticed food was thrown away. By working with the local food assistance center, I founded a program to send those products to needy families.”

Related reading: How to Answer, “What Motivates You?” - With Examples

“Perfectionism is my greatest weakness.”

When employers ask you about your weaknesses, they aren't looking for things like this. Besides, no one likes a perfectionist. Unfortunately, this is a very overused interview buzzword, and too many job candidates have the misconception that perfectionism is a positive trait. Hiring managers run from perfectionists like they are the plague. They understand that “perfect” is, all too often, the enemy of the “good.”

It's okay to acknowledge mistakes and shortcomings; it shows you're human. Identify examples of mistakes you've made, explain how you corrected the situations, and what you learned. Hiring managers want to see that you are resilient and adaptable enough to pick up the pieces and recover from any setbacks.

“My first week working for ABC Corp. was difficult. Did you know printers are temperamental? That week, I learned not to try to print five different reports on one machine.”

“My first assignment for the local newspaper was exciting until I learned not to rely on my recorder. It's wiser to always take notes.”

Related reading: Tips to Help You Highlight Adaptability Skills on Your Resume

Knowing what not to say in an interview can help boost your career

As important as it is to practice the best answers to common interview questions, it's just as important to know what not to say in an interview. Fortunately, you can avoid harmful answers by focusing on strong, positive responses that illustrate your qualifications for the position. Ultimately, that focused approach should help you minimize stale or negative answers that might ruin your chances.

In addition to knowing what not to say in an interview, it's also important to know that your resume is ready to catch any hiring manager's attention. Fortunately, our team of experts is always ready to provide you with a free resume review!

This article was originally written by M.A. Smith and was updated by Ken Chase in December 2024.

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