What not to say in a behavioral interview?

In a behavioral interview, it’s crucial to avoid certain missteps that could negatively impact how the interviewer perceives your qualifications and personality. Here are some key things not to say or do during a behavioral interview:

1. Speaking Negatively About Previous Employers or Colleagues

• Why avoid it: Criticizing a past employer or colleague can make you appear unprofessional and difficult to work with. It also raises concerns about how you might speak about this company in the future.
• What to do instead: Even if you had negative experiences, focus on what you learned from the situation or how you grew.

Example:
Avoid saying: "My previous boss was disorganized and difficult to work with."
Instead say: "I learned to adapt to different leadership styles and took proactive steps to keep our projects on track."

2. Failing to Provide Specific Examples

• Why avoid it: Vague responses show a lack of preparation or depth. Behavioral interview questions are designed to assess how you handled specific situations, so general answers don’t provide the interviewer with the evidence they need.
• What to do instead: Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to give detailed examples.

Example:
Avoid saying: "I always get my work done on time."
Instead say: "In my previous role, we had a major project due in two weeks. I organized the team’s workload, delegated tasks, and ensured we met the deadline while maintaining high-quality output."

3. Blaming Others for Failures

• Why avoid it: Deflecting responsibility can make you seem unaccountable or unwilling to reflect on your own role in challenges.
• What to do instead: If discussing a failure, focus on what you learned from it and how you’ve improved since then.

Example:
Avoid saying: "The project failed because my team didn’t pull their weight."
Instead say: "While the project didn’t go as planned, I learned the importance of clearer communication and setting more defined expectations early on."

4. Using "I Don't Know" or Giving Minimal Responses

• Why avoid it: Saying "I don’t know" or giving one-word answers suggests a lack of preparation or engagement. Behavioral interviews are an opportunity to showcase your skills through detailed examples.
• What to do instead: If you're unsure about a question, take a moment to think or ask for clarification. If you really don’t have an example, you can mention how you would handle a similar situation in the future.

Example:
Avoid saying: "I don’t have any experience with that."
Instead say: "While I haven’t encountered that exact scenario, in similar situations, I’ve taken the approach of gathering input from my team and evaluating all possible solutions before moving forward."

5. Overly Long or Off-Topic Answers

• Why avoid it: Rambling or going off-topic can confuse the interviewer and dilute the main points of your answer. This also shows a lack of focus and organization in your communication.
• What to do instead: Stick to the point and use the STAR method to keep your answers structured and relevant.

Example:
Avoid saying: A long, unrelated story that doesn’t directly answer the question.
Instead say: Give a concise example directly related to the question, and if needed, ask if the interviewer would like more details.

6. Giving Answers That Sound Rehearsed or Scripted

• Why avoid it: Over-rehearsed answers sound robotic and insincere, which can make you seem less authentic.
• What to do instead: Practice beforehand, but aim to keep your answers natural and conversational. Focus on genuine experiences rather than memorized lines.

7. Not Asking Questions

• Why avoid it: Failing to ask thoughtful questions at the end of the interview can make you seem disinterested or unprepared.
• What to do instead: Prepare a few meaningful questions about the role, team, or company culture to show engagement.

Conclusion

In a behavioral interview, it’s important to avoid negative language, vague responses, and deflecting responsibility. Focus on providing specific examples, taking accountability, and showing how you’ve grown from your experiences. This will leave a positive and professional impression on your interviewer.