Never Say the Following in a Job Interview

A phone or in person job interview is your chance to convince the interviewers why you are the best candidate for the job. The following is a list of things that job applicants have actually given during interviews. These are not what employers want to hear.

Q. "Why do you want to work for our company?"

A. "I need a job."

Recruiting professionals know you are looking for work. This is why you are applying. What employers are really looking to hear is a reason you are interested in their company. It indicates what kind of research you've done on the job or the company. A better answer is something to the effect of, "Your Company interests me because I like working in a (fill in the blank) type of environment and I've seen nothing but good things about company in the press. I really think working for your company will allow me to grow professionally while making a difference."

Q. "Where do you see yourself in five years?"

A. "Well, where I really want to work is at (inserts another company) and I'm just using this position to kind of help me get there. Truthfully, if you ask me, I would love nothing more than to not be working or pursuing my favorite hobby."

Recruiters and Hiring Managers know you have your own personal goals but telling them about your personal goals or that you are just using their company is a mistake. What they are looking to hear is your professional goals possibly within their company. A more appropriate answer would be something similar to: "By then I will have finished (or started) on my degree in (pick something). I think learning a secondary language would be helpful and I definitely want to pursue a management type of position. Training and developing people has always been an interest of mine." This verbiage may not apply directly to you, but you get the point.

Q. "Do you have any objections to submitting to a drug test?"

A. "Do you know how long it takes for marijuana to get out of your system?"

When a hiring manager or interviewer hears this type of response, they have to physically restrain themselves from cringing and or laughing. This is not a good indication you will be a good employee. The only appropriate answer to this questions is: "None." On a side note, because of HIPAA regulations (Health Information Portability and Accountability Act), employers are actually not allowed to ask about health conditions as long as it has no bearing on the actual job requirements itself. If asked about a drug test and you are taking prescription drugs, keep the information to yourself, as it has no bearing on hiring decisions. The drug collection site and employers have processes in place to handle prescription drugs that may flag a positive test result. If you're very concerned about it you could ask the interviewer or drug collection facility, "If an applicant was taking any prescription medications, do you require to see a listing of them?" In most cases, the answer will be "No," or instructions will be provided to you at that time, but the employer should not need to see a list of them.

The most important thing to remember is to keep all your answers professionally orientated when it comes to goals, concerns, and social life. An interviewer does not need to know if you have children or trouble with finding daycare or your marital status. A general reassurance to the employer would sound similar to: "I would need two weeks to be available." This takes care of any concerns the employer might have without showing you might be nervous or dealing with other possibly intense personal issues.