Unremarkably, you lot can tell when you've absolutely bombed an interview. If, during the course of your conversation, you reveal that yous're totally unqualified, let sideslip a particularly unprofessional anecdote, or manage to offend the recruiter or hiring managing director, it's typically not a surprise when yous don't get a callback.

But plenty of times, you'll go out an interview feeling great simply to hear that they won't be moving frontwards with you, or worse: You won't hear anything at all. In situations like those, you lot might wonder: What did I practise incorrect?

It but might be the case that the actual words you're using in your interview might exist rubbing employers the wrong manner. Take a wait at the post-obit words and phrases that drive recruiters crazy, and make sure to eliminate them from your vocab!

1. "I Really Want This Chore"

It'southward a fact that recruiters want to run across passion and enthusiasm from their candidates–but there's a right way and a incorrect style to show information technology. Y'all might intend for this phrase to demonstrate your eagerness, only in reality, it "comes off as slightly desperate, and agony doesn't expect expert in any context," says Zachary Painter, career adviser and hiring managing director at ResumeGenius.com. "You want to appear confident and competent–non as a hopeless applicant seeking a means to an end."

Instead, try maxim, "I'm very excited that you requested an interview with me, and I look forward to discussing the details of the position," Painter recommends.


Related: The Surprising Ways You Ruined Your Interview Before You Even Opened Your Mouth


2. "Does This Position Include Benefits?"

Don't get us wrong–it'south definitely worth finding out the reply to this question, but there'due south a fourth dimension and a place for everything. "The mistake interviewees make is asking this question besides shortly," says Apr Klimkiewicz, career charabanc and owner of bliss development. "This is an important question, [just] 1 yous should ask in one case the employer has extended an offering."

Why? "Unfortunately, this tin make you await like you're pursuing this position for all the wrong reasons," Klimkiewicz says. "Instead, be sure to enquire questions that get at how yous could ultimately help the company reach their goals. 'How do yous see this position moving the organization toward the mission we've discussed,' is a good culling."

3. "Um…"

Who amid us hasn't had a moment when their mind goes completely blank in the middle of an interview? It happens to even the virtually seasoned veterans, only there are amend means to handle it than simply saying "Um…" followed past an bad-mannered pause. The key is to sound thoughtful rather than empty-headed.


Related: The Right Style To Discuss Your Failures In A Job Interview


"Trying to fill up the silence with words like 'um' can brand information technology look like you're grasping to recollect of what to say. If you need more than than just a few seconds, say, 'That's a groovy question. Allow me accept a moment to think near it.' This way, you'll encounter as at-home and nerveless rather than nervous," Klimkiewicz suggests.

4. "Like… / I Think… / You lot Know…"

Forth with "um," these are a few other filler words that have got to go. According to career charabanc Jena Viviano, they "brand you lot audio unconfident and unintelligent. Non a winning combination for an interview." Of course, you're probably not saying these on purpose, so the first step is merely existence aware of when and how oft you say them.

"Practise is cardinal here. Record yourself answering mock interview questions to see how bad your filler words are. And so work to improve upon that. Also, eradicate passive phrases like 'I think' and 'you know' with more confident and directive statements," Viviano says. "This will heave your ain confidence and make you sound more than impressive to the hiring manager."

five. "As I Already Said…"

It might seem innocuous enough, just "whether this is referencing a previously used state of affairs or just reiterating a skill or accomplishment, the phrase implies that the interviewer wasn't listening. Fifty-fifty worse, it makes the candidate look like they don't have relevant experience or skills, since they have to keep restating information that was already covered," says career passenger vehicle Donna Shannon.

An easy manner to avert this? Think upwardly some more situations to describe from in advance. "Look for new situations that describe [your] expertise. A good exercise before the interview is to review the job description and write out relevant stories for each one of the responsibilities. This way, when the employer asks about a similar state of affairs, the candidate has quality stories ready to go," Shannon recommends.

half dozen. Hard-Working, Fast-Learner, Self-Motivated, Etc.

You might remember that words like these sound dainty in your elevator pitch, only recruiters have been around the block enough times before to know that they're all flash and no substance.

"These are cliché words that don't actually mean anything. They don't describe what makes you special, or fifty-fifty whether you lot are a good fit for the company," says Aurora Meneghello, career coach and founder of Repurpose Your Purpose.

"Instead of using those terms, practice telling a short and specific story that shows how y'all worked hard, or learned fast. Personal, relevant anecdotes will set you apart from almost candidates, and could be the nigh memorable part of your interview," Meneghello says.


Related: Three Job Interview Mistakes Yous Think Yous Avoided Simply Actually Didn't


seven. "What Are My Chances Of Getting Hired?"

Let's exist honest: This is probably on your mind 24/seven throughout the entire interview process. But just considering you lot're dying to know the answer doesn't mean you should actually ask the question.

"If you inquire this, yous tin bet your chances are zero–this goes across agony and moves into 'pathetic' territory," Painter says. Instead, Painter recommends saying something along the lines of, "The prospect of working hither is really exciting, and I retrieve I'd exist a great addition to your squad."

8. Fired, Hate, Terrible, Etc.

Words like these are fine if yous're venting exterior of the office to a close friend or significant other. But during the interview? Not so much.

"Avoid negative language and put-downs, whether referring to yourself, previous jobs, piece of work environments, or the world in general. No one wants to rent a negative person!" Meneghello says. Even if y'all've had some genuinely difficult feel in the by, "show that you can keep your absurd nether force per unit area, and tin be a unimposing, forgiving, and generous team member."

Accept a hard time property back when a certain subject comes up? "Avoid the topic of what didn't work or does not piece of work in your current state of affairs, and talk instead about what you are looking for, using positive language," Meneghello advises. "Hiring managers already understand that if yous are looking for a new chore you must non be happy at your electric current 1–no need to belabor the indicate. Focus on why you want to join their team instead."

ix. "My Manager And I Didn't Go Forth"

This is one negative phrase that you'll want to avoid in detail. When hiring a new team member, hiring managers want to ensure that the folks they bring in will gel well with the current employees–and "this makes you look ungrateful, entitled, and difficult to work with," Viviano says.

Instead, try saying something like "I've spent the by 2 years at Company X and I've learned a lot from that experience. But I'm looking for something that has more than growth potential, challenging projects, and a team that is various and frontward-thinking," Viviano suggests. "The key is to focus on the opportunity ahead, not the opportunity backside yous. Be grateful and exist set to move on."

ten. "I'm A Perfectionist"

Almost every recruiter has heard this eye roll-inducing respond to the question, "What is your greatest weakness?"

"Information technology's a cliché answer, and information technology shows that you lot haven't done your homework," Klimkiewicz says. When recruiters ask about areas of comeback, they're really trying "to see if y'all're self-enlightened," Viviano says. "Past answering this way you lot audio inauthentic, pompous, and like y'all actually oasis't thought through your existent weaknesses. Give a existent weakness. It could be procrastination, public speaking, data analysis–whatever it is, just make sure it isn't crucial to the success of yous doing your job and always explicate how you lot are working to improve upon information technology," Viviano recommends.

11. "Just/Actually/I Am No Practiced But…"

People frequently lean on these words in an endeavor to sound humble or hedge their opinions, only believe us: Wwords like these aren't doing you any favors in interviews.

"Some of us have a tendency to use words that undermine our potency or convey insecurity. This can happen because of lack of cocky-esteem, being brought upwardly in a civilization where being confident was frowned upon, or simply out of habit," Meneghello explains. "I invite you to go to the root cause of your language patterns, and to work on shifting them if you want long-term results."

In the brusque term, y'all can work toward this if you lot "practice getting straight to the point: instead of proverb 'Actually, I was wondering if I may ask,' enquire the question without a preamble, and become used to [skipping] 'just,' 'a little,' and other words that do not move the chat frontward," she says.

12. "I Don't Really Have Any Questions Almost The Company"

Recruiters aren't just being polite when they ask if you accept any questions for them about the company or position. "Part of the reason hiring managers ask this question is to gauge your interest in and knowledge of the visitor. If you care, you'll have pertinent questions that will, hopefully, lead to a fruitful conversation," Painter says.

In that location's no limit of great questions you tin ask, merely a couple that Painter recommends in particular are, "Can you tell me about some of the current challenges facing your department, and what the team'southward strategy is regarding those issues?" and "How do you measure success for this position?"

xiii. "When Can I Offset?"

You might have seen a absurd, confident grapheme bust this line out in a movie or Boob tube evidence before, resulting in a hearty express mirth from the hiring manager and an assurance that they've got the job. Merely that just goes to show you that you lot shouldn't believe everything you meet on the silverish screen.

"Such a question commonly follows an interview that seemingly went well. Fact is, information technology sounds arrogant, unprofessional, and presumptuous," Painter says. As a substitute, Painter recommends going with, "Give thanks yous very much for your time! I await frontward to hearing from you shortly."


This article originally appeared on Glassdoor and is reprinted with permission.