The Biggest Mistake Employees Make in Job Interviews

A job interview is like a first date. Speaking negatively about your previous employer in a job interview, no matter how deserved or serious the situation was, will only reflect poorly on you.

It is important to stress that transparency is important in a job interview. Sugar-coating or giving fluff answers will not build trust with a prospective employer. However, an interview is also not the time to be defensive or speak negatively about your past employment.

Cathleen Scott, board-certified employment law attorney, strongly recommends that when speaking about a difficult employment experience, you focus on the positives and how you have grown rather than emphasizing the negatives.

How do you work around a difficult employment experience in a job interview?

Focus on the positives and how the experience has shaped your growth.

For example, instead of focusing on the fact that you were terminated, focus on the fact that you were employed for 20 years. Talk about what you learned, the experience you gained, or how the situation became a wake-up call that helped you grow.

Key Takeaways

Criticizing your previous employer in a job interview, no matter how deserved it may be, can raise red flags in the eyes of a prospective employer. You do not want to give a prospective employer any indication that you may be difficult to work with or prone to conflict.

Your past experiences, good or bad, are part of your story. The key is showing a prospective employer what you took away from those experiences and how they helped shape where you are today.

This approach can also apply when discussing other difficult parts of your history, such as a period of unemployment or other challenges in your employment history. Showing growth and professionalism when discussing difficult experiences can go a long way.

Humans are naturally drawn to stories, and if you can communicate your professional story in a meaningful way, your past experiences do not have to hold you back.