Interviews

Why Your Words Matter in an Interview

Aug 18, 2025

17 mins to read

Hiring managers don’t just evaluate your skills they assess your professionalism, cultural fit, and judgment. A single poorly chosen phrase can signal a lack of preparation, a negative attitude, or a short term mindset, costing you the opportunity. The good news? You can avoid these pitfalls by framing your responses strategically.

Avoid These Interview Phrases to Shine

Here are seven phrases you should avoid and how to replace them with responses that show your worth based on advice from top career counselors and recruiters

The 7 Things You Shouldn't Say and What to Say Instead

These statements might hurt your reputation but if you use the appropriate ones , you can convert mistakes into chances to shine

Don't Say	Why It Doesn't Work	Say This Instead
My resume has all the information about me	It's dismissive and misses the possibility to make your tale fit the "Tell me about yourself" question	I bring important skills like [skill 1] and [skill 2] For instance I did [particular thing] People recognize me for [good quality] and I would add [particular value] (Use the S.E.A.T. structure which stands for Skills Experience Achievements and Traits)
I'm so scared!	Makes you less sure of yourself and makes you think about how bad you feel	I'm excited about this chance, I have a great work ethic Ask for feedback and work hard to provide value to your team
I'm leaving because my boss or company is bad	Sounds bad or makes it sound like you're the problem which is a red flag	I've learned a lot in my current job like [success] I'm looking for a new job at a firm like yours with big aims where I can learn and make a difference
I don't really understand what your business does	Lack of effort and preparedness often leads to immediate disqualification	I've looked into your company and like how you lead in [industry] especially how you focus on [specific value/product] I also noted your recent [achievement/news]
What's my weakness? I want everything to be perfect	It's clichéd and not real which shows a lack of self-awareness	I've improved on [particular weakness like giving out tasks] I've gotten better by [activity like assessing team capability early] which has made [outcomes like project efficiency] better
I really need this job	Sounds desperate and just cares about your wants not the employer's	I love [role/industry] and your company's [value/mission] Talking to [name if relevant] reaffirmed that your team culture is robust which is where I can grow and offer value
I want to start my own business in five years	Employers may be worried that you're not dedicated long-term which is a problem for them	In five years I see myself as a key contributor here taking on more responsibility in [role/area] supporting [company goal] and mentoring new team members

Bonus Deal-Breaker: Don't Ever Say "I don't have any questions"

If you don't ask questions at the end of an interview it shows you're not interested or not ready. Always be ready with insightful questions to show that you are interested and engaged

What do you like best about working here
What are the team's biggest problems and how can this job help fix them
What would you tell someone who is just starting in this job to do to be successful quickly
Why It Matters Asking smart questions shows that you care about the job and helps you figure out if the organization is a good fit for you

The Golden Rule: Set Your Value

Interviews are all about following "unspoken rules" as Stanford career advisor Jordan Lee says, What you say affects how hiring managers see you To keep on track follow these rules

Make negatives into positives Look at problems as chances to get better If you were talking about a fight from the past you could add I learned to communicate more proactively which made it easier for the team to work together
Redirecting Gracefully If someone asks you a hard question, be professional and say I'd need more information to properly answer but based on my expertise, I'd handle it by [particular strategy]
Pay attention to what they need Every answer should show the employer what you can do for them , Link your abilities and accomplishments to their aims such as My experience in [skill] can help drive [company objective]

How to Get Ready for a Successful Interview

Find out more about the company, Look at their website the news and their principles To prove that you know what you're talking about talk about , particular things like a new product launch or their objective
Practice Your Answers, Use a video or audio tool to record yourself answering typical queries Check your tone how clear you are and how sure you are You can improve your delivery by practicing out loud
Use the S.E.A.T. Framework , When someone asks you to "tell me about yourself" use Skills Experience Achievements and Traits to organize your answer into a short interesting story
Get ready with questions, Make a list of 5 to 7 good questions to ask at the end of the interview To show that you are really interested make them fit the job and the organization

Be in Charge of Your Interview

You could lose the job if you make one mistake in an interview, yet saying the correct things can make you stand out

You may show that you are confident professional and valuable by avoiding these seven bad phrases and adopting smart alternatives

Learn these answers look up information on the company and get ready to wow them at your next interview You can get your dream job if you make every word count