Ever wondered what cost you this precious job interview you so meticulously prepared for? What if they are certain words you chose to say rather than what you should have! Every job interviewer is looking for the employee who is a perfect fit for the job. Thus, choice of words is of supreme importance lest you are ready to take chances based on your other attributes only. Here are 5 such words and their suitable replacements:‘WE’ Versus ‘I’ : While using “we” may communicate your tendency to take shelter in a group of same class but it might not convey on your own prowess in that class group. In contrast only ‘I’ may communicate your lack of capacity to work with ours. Thus, if you were a sales representative, saying that ‘I was top ranking sales executive of company’ may be replaced with ‘I was top sales representative in the group/company as I exceeded my target by 3 times as much’. The former focuses only on you exposing a tendency that you may cross lines but the latter focuses on you within the company expectations.
‘I Know’ versus ‘I’m data driven’
The first of these choices is likely to wet your golden dream but the second is a sure go-getter. You might not want to get embroiled in a tussle with your interviewer about brain prowess thus, inadvertently questioning their competence but you sure are likely to hit a jackpot if you do base your knowledge on proven statistics.
‘Sure’ versus ‘Potential’
Rather than committing to surety in response to your job profile, convey that you have the requisite potential while citing your achievements. This will lead the interviewer to know more about you that’s not on your resume. A firm ‘Yes’ or “no” may not always fit in as the desired answer. By showing the potential that you have you may convey other attributes about you that will not flow from conveying merely how sure you are. Please be mindful that you don’t end up merely appeasing the interviewer as that’s akin to a carrier suicide.
‘Don’t Know’ versus ‘Need a Minute’
While the first answer may reflect on your lack of preparation and confidence, the second will reflect on your critical thinking ability that you may boost with praising the question asked as an important one. While at it, you may ask for some additional information required for an apt response.
‘Learn’ versus ‘Explore’
Avoid phrases like ‘I’m here to learn/ I’m a quick learner or I will be excited in learning…’ when asked about aspects that may be bordering on or even beyond your work profile. Companies, etc look for accountability and you know that. That might be a trick question or not. But in either case, rather than impulsively responding that you are willing to learn, you may say that you may be willing to explore if it is conducive, thus communicating your openness to learn as well as your caution qua accountability.
So get up and get rid of cliched buzzwords. They cause more harm than good. Knowing right from wrong delivers you your sought after dream job. All the best.