So you have made it to the job interview, you are nervous, excited, a little sick, and wanting to make a good impression. That is great! This means you are probably a hard worker that cares about getting this job. In your nervousness though you worry that something wrong is going to come out of your mouth right. Here are some topics to steer clear of to make your job interview go a little smoother.

I sure hated my last boss

The majority of todays work force does not have a good opinion of their boss. If asked they will probably say they have a better opinion of the rent collector. With that being said your future boss will want to think you have a high opinion of your superiors if hiring you.

I do not really know anything about this company

Probably the worst thing you can say in some situations. If you do not know anything about the company you are going to work for you should probably get some info before the interview. With the internet you will have plenty of resources to find something.

No I do not have any questions

Even if you have no questions for your interviewer you can always ask them what they like about working for the company, how long they have been there, if they have any advice for you, etc. Do not just say you have no questions.

I need some days off

Your potential boss wants to know when you will be able to work for him or her, when you will not be able to. Do not show up with demands at a job interview, you are working for them not the other way around.

So when will I get promoted?

Why do you deserve to get promoted? You have not even proven that you can do your job yet let alone your superiors job. Getting promoted takes time and you need to give it that if you plan on your superiors even thinking about promoting you.

Yes of course...

I do not know everything, you do not know everything, and your boss does not know everything. If you have no answer or do not know then ask! Your boss will get sick of you having an answer for everything and more than likely will see right through you if you have the tendency to act like you know everything.

When going into a job interview just remember that it is just that, an interview. Do not try to be the perfect person all around, just try to be the perfect person for that job and you will do fine.

Your post is very familiar. I just read the exact same post on wplh. Was that you?

"...you are working for them not the other way around."

No.

Employment is an equal exchange: expertise for money. The employee is not the servant of the employer -- they are peers. An interview is not just an opportunity for the hiring manager to evaluate the applicant: it is also an opportunity for the applicant to evaluate the company doing the hiring.

Never forget that you were invited to the interview because you have something that the employer lacks, and they want to pay you for it. Your goal at an interview is never to simply "get the job". Your goal is to see if this position at this company is a good match to you, your goals, and your skills.

I agree with most everything said here, with some exceptions. Yes the employers are our peers, but they are the ones hiring and we do need to present ourselves well in an interview. We must be confident but not overly , must be clean , neat , use good grammar,etc. I do agree we should understand in our own mind what we want from the job so we can decide if we want it. But on the other hand with so many loosing jobs some of us are willing to take whatever we can get and an interview to work for McDonalds will be easier on us than an interview for a software engineer. Just use common sense, practice before you go to an interview what you want out of it. Google how to interview in this day and age there is so much out there to help us get that interview and then the job.

Its never a good thing to take an elitist attitude when you are in a position of power. The comment about not asking about money is a bit belittling. If I am going to do a job for you, then you WILL pay me so we might as well talk about it. Sorry but to tell someone to NOT ask about pay is just insulting. Its like saying lay down and get walked over.

Granted to have a job is a great thing and something to be grateful for but its not worth being anyone's doormat. I noticed you have a business in your link. Heaven help the employees.

Great comments!

"If I am going to do a job for you, then you WILL pay me so we might as well talk about it."

Good point never get walked on in the beginning or you will never have your employers respect when you are hired.

"Yes the employers are our peers, but they are the ones hiring and we do need to present ourselves well in an interview. We must be confident but not overly , must be clean , neat , use good grammar,etc."

Very nice I agree with you 100%

"Employment is an equal exchange: expertise for money. The employee is not the servant of the employer -- they are peers. "

Going back to respect and getting walked on I do agree with you. If you can't maintain an equal ground at some point your employer will simply push you as far as they can.

"Your post is very familiar. I just read the exact same post on wplh. Was that you?"

Yes that was me. I originally wrote this post on my blog at employed-online.com. I will occasionally share the articles I write with a couple of forums that I think would appreciate my views.

I tend to disagree. It's like the analogy that is used on WAH Mafia. You need to fulfill the need that employer has and they are looking for what you can bring to the company. And pay is a vital of that equation. It's companies that pay peanuts for hard work that make it difficult for work at home contractors to be able to support themselves.

Just curious, Joseph, do you have work at home experience or just a site?

I would never even consider going to work for someone (or hiring someone) without discussing compensation. If the employer displayed any type of condescending attitude, unrealistic expectations for the compensation or problems with me discussing the subject of money during the interview I would let them know then and there how I felt and end the interview.

Keep in mind that many times, the person conducting an interview may not be the person who determines the salary. That may come later in the interview process.

"Just curious, Joseph, do you have work at home experience or just a site?"

You have a great point. I guess I should clarify a little just to keep the record straight. I started working from home when I was 17. It started as a business painting ads for businesses on their windows and progressed into other service businesses and an online presence with my website etc.

What is difficult like you mentioned is trying to get a job where the work from home employer will actually pay you what you are worth. I have seen some job posts that are advertised at $4 per hour. Less than peanuts.

What I am suggesting is right out of the gate don't mention money, instead smile, be friendly, and show the employer why they should be paying you more than the average Joe. If you can prove that you are worth it then they will negotiate with you on the pay.

I have done a lot of "beginning work" for free or little pay for employers to get them wrapped around my finger, and then I would demand pay that I deserved. I get the pay about 8 or 9 times out of ten making this technique very worth it.

So yes do not talk about money at first until the employer loves you. Then don't settle for any less than you are worth.

I hope this makes a little more sense. Thanks for the great feedback and comments. I really appreciate the different views, it has helped me to see things in new perspectives.

"Just curious, Joseph, do you have work at home experience or just a site?"

You have a great point. I guess I should clarify a little just to keep the record straight. I started working from home when I was 17. It started as a business painting ads for businesses on their windows and progressed into other service businesses and an online presence with my website etc.


Joseph, I think that would be a no. To have worked from home you would have had to have worked FOR someone. It sounds like your only virtual position was the experience with your own websites. That would make you a business owner. Its a little difficult to identify with a person that is relying on that employer for their next meal. Employers have a tendency to be cold and heartless when it comes to pay and if an employee does not ask then that means they are settling for whatever is handed to them.

Employers now use the STAR process when interviewing and once that is completed, you are asked if you have any questions. When I conduct interviews on a freelance basis, I watch for those employees that do not ask about pay because they are timid and will likely cause a ruckus after being hired. I have quite a few tips on conducting yourself in an interview, writing a proper resume, etc. in my Tips section. I advise all to look over my tips on the STAR process.

Not all interviews, or persons participating in them, are the same. It is good to have a spectrum of advice on how to handle things.

Having worked from home I would not interview for any job without an idea of compensation. It's like these companies that say they will pay up to $10 per hour and no one makes more then $3. You have to ask about the structure and the payment scale to save everyone's time.

I agree Jeff. Even in an initial interview the interviewer should have knowledge of compensation and be able to discuss it intelligently.

Just out of curiosity, how many people have actually had to ask about pay during an interview? It's been a while since I've had a face to face interview but, when I did, the interviewer always brought that up. When I was interviewing, I always did, too. It was part of the discussion of company expectations, working hours and benefits. I always thought it was in everyone's best interests to get the facts out there, so both parties would have the information they needed to make an informed decision.

I guess it all depends on your perspective on the matter. You may be one to want to ask about pay and you may be one who waits for the employer to bring it up. Whatever your preference is you should only accept what is reasonable and fair to you.

Another thing to consider is the money and time you are saving by working from home. Employers may only want to pay you minimum wage or less in some cases but you have to remember that you are saving on commute costs, child care, lunch expenses, etc that come with a normal out of home job. Consider your gas prices, meals etc when thinking about wages as well.