5 Interview Answers SERIOUS Job Seekers Should Avoid At All Cost

By Jane Okoth

No one can predict the exact questions that are going to be asked in a job interview but there are some specific ones that can make or break that interview.

How well you answer questions will definitely say a lot about your suitability for the position.

How do you ensure that you are giving the right response that you don’t end up spoiling the chance for yourself?

Here are five answers to avoid if you want to be taken seriously.

Flora Otieno, a Human Resource Officer at KENATCO states that positivity is the key to ensuring that the interviewer considers you for the job.

“Your attitude matters even more than the qualification itself,” she asserts.

So what are these common bad answers serious job seekers should avoid in an interview?

1: Can you be Able to Work Past Normal Working Hours?

Wrong answer: I am only able to work during the  normal working days and hours because I have a life outside the office.

“What the job seeker does not understand is that an employer does not care about your personal life and only wants the job done, she opines.

She also thinks that “It is understandable that all persons are busy when handed extra responsibilities but you don’t have to say it in the interview panel.

This will send a strong message to the employer that you are not flexible and responsible and certainly not the person they are looking for.”

2: Can you be Able to Work with certain types of ‘personalities’?

Wrong answer: I cannot be able to work with certain kind of person because their personalities do not match with mine.

Answering such a question in this manner will make the interviewer think that you are not into teamwork and cannot accommodate other colleagues,” she says.

3. How would you handle a different kind of responsibility? (In this case a non-related position to your job specification)

Wrong answer: I would love to but that is not my area of specification.

“Take the initiative to convince the interviewer that you are ready to learn if you are assigned other responsibilities and duties even if they are not related to your job,” she advices.

“If you tell them that you cannot do it, what assurance are you giving to the employer that you are going to fully complete all the duties and responsibilities assigned?” she poses.

4. How rewarding was your former job and what unique skills did you acquire?

Wrong answer: I was not able to learn much as the working conditions as well as my boss were not conducive.

“This might be true but never talk about it in the interview. Even if your job was not good try a different polite word like challenging,” she says.

She also asserts that “The same case also applies when you are talking about your former boss. Bosses can be bad but it will not pay to badmouth them in the interview.”

“This will make the interviewer to start thinking that you are capable of badmouthing them in case you leave their company,” she adds.

She strongly affirms that “The worst thing you can do in a job interview is to try and focus on your negative points.

While positivity can be an important issue, honesty will make the interviewer trust you even more.”

“You may think that lying is going to get you off the hook, but there are some questions that they may ask that will eventually get you cornered,” she warns.

And what is her advice to the job seekers out there?

Ms Otieno maintains that “if the interviewer is able to identify your humble and positive attitude, you are more likely to be guaranteed to get the job than someone with a higher qualification.”

Are you ready to confront your next interview?

For more interview based queries, contact Jane at jane@www.careerpointkenya.co.ke

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