We have prepared a list of 14 Things You Should Never Say in a job interview; we hope this list will be useful to you. In an interview, your sole objective should be to present yourself as the best candidate among many job seekers.
We all think that, but how will it happen? How much have we actually thought about that!
So, let’s discuss.
You must be aware of those words or behaviors that are considered “red flags” to an interviewer. From criticizing someone unilaterally or criticizing the government to presenting yourself as an overqualified candidate. Repeatedly saying “uh,” “um,” “i mean”, “you know” – can create a negative impact. In an interview, your No 1 goal should be: to clearly demonstrate through your actions that you are the most suitable person for that position compared to other parties. So that at the end of the interview, the recruiter considers you the right fit. Or feels that their work will be completed properly with you.
1. “I didn’t have time to prepare.”
The rule no. 1 of an interview is—to prepare yourself well, and to research thoroughly regarding the position for which you are going to give the job interview.
Recruiters will certainly check how qualified a person you are for that specific position. They will ask many questions to verify you.
You should never say that you do not have time. Or that you could not complete that due to a lack of time.
During the interview, you will create such an impression that the interviewer can understand that you are the right and suitable candidate.
2. “I’ll do anything!”
Most recruiters want to hire enthusiastic and goal-oriented job seekers. If you are not clear about exactly what you want to do, the recruiter thinks—you are unable to work specifically in a particular role.
The position you are going for an interview for, you will express confidence and the qualities required for that position. Do not weaken your own profile image or brand.
3. “My last work-place was so toxic.”
No matter how bad your previous job was, you should never—absolutely never—badmouth your former employer or workplace during an interview. Even if your previous workplace or employer was genuinely toxic, the interviewer doesn’t know that. Instead, it might create a doubt in their mind: will you say the same things or bring similar allegations against their company in the future?
Therefore, your tone should be somewhere between neutral and positive. Instead of pointing out who did what wrong, emphasize what you learned from that experience, how you want to establish yourself in a better position, and what your future goals are.
This is especially applicable when explaining why you are leaving your job. At this point, your perspective clearly reflects your professionalism, accountability, and emotional maturity.
4. “I know I don’t have much experience, but…”
This is a mistake many job seekers make—especially recent graduates or those changing careers. When a candidate apologizes for their lack of experience, they inadvertently signal that they might not be the right fit for the role, or that they are starting entirely from scratch.
In reality, it’s not that simple. Interviewers do not view this mistake favorably.
Therefore, instead of focusing on your weaknesses, stay positive and maintain a confident mindset. Emphasize how your other soft skills and focus on your strengths,, your work ethic, and your eagerness to learn can compensate for that lack of direct experience.
5. “Um, I don’t know.”
An interview does not have a fixed syllabus. One needs to prepare extensively for it. There should be a high level of professional skill and depth of subject knowledge, as these are thoroughly tested in the interview room. Some questions may arise that a candidate might not know.
It is inappropriate to immediately say ‘I don’t know’ in response to such unknown questions.
If you feel you cannot answer the question, then instead of saying it directly, you should first say, ”Sir, it is not coming to my mind at the moment, please forgive me” or ”Sir, I am unable to recall the answer at the moment, but I would be happy to look it up.”
6. “Giving a wrong answer based on a guess/idea.”
Those who are interviewing you often ask confusing and tricky questions. They want to understand your subject expertise, your commitment to work, your mindset, and your professional development. In this situation, if you give a wrong answer based on a mere guess, it will prove that in the future, you will continue to give incorrect answers to everyone based on speculation.
For example: if a teacher does not know the answer to a question, they should tell the students, ‘It is not coming to my mind at the moment; I will look into it and tell you later.’ But if instead of saying that, providing a wrong answer, it will certainly create a negative impact on professional development.
A Quick Tip:
In interviews, if you are unsure but want to try, you can use a “bridge” sentence like: “I am not entirely certain, but based on my understanding of [Subject], I believe it could be…” This shows you are thinking critically rather than just guessing blindly.
7. “Losing the sequence while trying to deliver answers like a robot.”
Have you practiced the answers to some interview questions? That is a very good thing. But do not memorize them like a robot
If you think you will deliver memorized answers in the interview room, it will become difficult for you to engage in a natural and cordial conversation with the interviewer.
Interviewers generally want to hire a candidate who remains logical, maintains a natural rhythm, speaks spontaneously, and presents reality. They dislike rote memorization.
Therefore, instead of memorizing the answers, think about this: Why did the interviewer ask you this question? What qualities are they trying to judge through it? After understanding those points, present each objective in an organized manner. You must learn how to structure the sequence of your response. This way, you will feel less pressure before entering the interview.
8. ”Speaking overly coached words”
It is generally suspected that your words should align with your actual professional development. Avoid speaking in an overly philosophical or ‘over-coached’ manner. However, if you must say something profound, explain it further or rephrase it creatively. Why? Because honestly, the interviewer has likely heard the same generic lines from many other candidates. For example, instead of saying ”I work very hard,” you could say ”I hold myself to very high standards”.
9. “Um, you know, like…”
Filler words like “like” and “um” can make you seem unsure of yourself—or worse, give the impression that you can’t communicate clearly at work. Instead of relying on these verbal crutches, train yourself to pause briefly, slow down your speech, and organize your thoughts before speaking. With a bit of practice, you can eliminate “like” from your vocabulary and come across as more confident, clear, and professional.
10. “Sh*t, I’m so sorry.”
You might think avoiding swear words is Interviewing, but you’d be surprised how often candidates still slip up. Even if your interviewer casually drops an S- or F-bomb, it’s always safer to keep your own language clean and professional. Sticking to PG-level language helps you come across as respectful, polished, and workplace-ready.
11. Nervous
Even if you’re more nervous than you’ve ever been, no company wants to hire someone who appears to lack confidence. Don’t tell your interviewer how nervous you are—or how nervous you were before the interview. Instead, project calm and confidence. Or, as Hoover advises, “fake it ’til you make it.
12. Weaknesses or mistakes
“Never voluntarily talk about your weaknesses unless they specifically ask you the standard interview question, ‘What’s your biggest weakness?’
And avoid bringing up mistakes you’ve made at work—unless you’re using them to clearly show how you learned from the experience and made meaningful improvements afterward. The focus should always be on growth, accountability, and progress—not on the mistake itself.
13. Need / Talk: Show me some mercy
During an interview, never ask for mercy or expect the interviewer to ‘understand’ your personal situation. Never try to gain sympathy or bring up family problems. Do not attempt to use emotional blackmail in any way.
14. Belittle yourself or present
Don’t undermine yourself in front of the interviewers. Never show yourself as inferior. Don’t think of your strengths as weaknesses or speak negatively about your own abilities.