The late George Carlin did a famous routine about the 7 words you can’t say on TV. I have my own version of the routine: the 7 words you can’t—or at least, you shouldn’t—say during a job interview.

Some Clarification

My version is a lot less risqué, than Mr. Carlin’s. It won’t get SafetyXChange into trouble or raise any red flags with the FCC. (Editor’s Note: For non-Americans in the audience, the Federal Communications Commission, or FCC, is the U.S. government agency that polices the airwaves and, in this day and age, spends a lot of its time promoting “decency.”). All 7 of these words sound impressive. But using them to describe yourself will almost invariably count against you. Now, onto the list:

1. “Articulate”

I mean “articulate,” the adjective, not “articulate,” the verb. Do the latter and don’t mention the former. In other words, don’t call yourself “articulate.” If you say you’re “articulate” and really are, you come off sounding arrogant; if you say you’re “articulate” and really aren’t, you come off sounding like a buffoon.

2. “Smart”

“I’m very smart.” How would you feel about a person who uttered those words to you? Chances are, you wouldn’t feel terribly fond of the person. You’d also probably think the person wasn’t telling the truth. After all, people who really are smart don’t generally say it; they display it.

3. “Integrity”

Unless you’re a politician, you don’t have to go out of your way to establish that you have integrity. Most people will assume that you do. If an interviewee wants to cast doubt about his integrity in the interviewer’s mind, the best way to do it is to (in order of effectiveness): a. Steal the interviewer’s wallet; and b. tell the interviewer “I have integrity.”

4. “Motivated”

There’s no need to tell the interviewer that you’re motivated about the job. Your very presence at the interview says it better than your words ever can. On the other hand, you can and should explain precisely what about the opportunity motivates you and why.

5. “Good Sense of Humor”

Okay, I’m cheating. This is a phrase, not a word. But the concept is the same. Don’t tell interviewers that you have a sense of humor; demonstrate it. Just keep it within bounds. Don’t make jokes about politics, ethnic groups or other people. And while a smile and gentle laugh can brighten a mood and impression, interviews are serious business and there’s a fine line between displaying humor and coming across as a clown. 

6. “Persuasive”

Persuasiveness is another one of those traits that needs to be demonstrated. The interview is a forum to conduct such a demonstration. Don’t tell interviewers you’re persuasive; persuade them about something—like your qualifications for the position.

7. “Trustworthy”

If a person says “you can trust me,” a red light should go off in your brain. People who really are trustworthy don’t operate like this. They understand that trust is something to be earned, not asked for.

Conclusion

By now, I hope you will have discerned the central theme of this analysis. All seven of the words on my interview no-no list are qualities that employers do look for from job candidates. And indeed, the interview is the forum to demonstrate those qualities. But the operable word is “demonstrate.” Simply saying that you possess the quality doesn’t prove that you do; in fact, it suggests that you don’t. As in life, during the interview process, actions speak louder than words.

Wishing you career success,

Lauryn Franzoni
ExecuNet
www.execunet.com

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