Keeping Negativity OUT of the Interview

When you are interviewing for a position, you most likely will meet with 2 or 3 people, and be competing against 5 or 10.  Your interviewer is looking for reasons to exclude you from the competition, one of the red flags being too negative about a past employer, co-workers, or job.

As a potential hire, focusing on all the things that went wrong in a past position can make the interviewer subconsciously translate that information to think “this will be about me.” Being negative from the start is an indicator that you may eventually form negative thoughts about the company a few months after hire, thus looking for a new opportunity before really diving into the position. 

One of the major questions that is asked during an interview is “why are you looking to change companies?” It may seem like an easy question, but formulating an answer without bringing a negative energy can sometimes be difficult.  Keep it light with simple responses such as, the company has been great but it isn’t the culture or it isn’t the right career path or industry.

Instead of approaching questions with a negative answer, try refocusing that negative energy and talk about the things you learned. Is there a new skill you developed? Did working with individuals with different opinions strengthen your ability to work in a team setting? Is there a project you are proud of or did you hit any major milestones?  Finding positive answers can illustrate your ability to find solutions and problem solve.

Droning on about a bad experience can leave your interviewer questioning whether you have the ability or willingness to do the job. You may have the right experience and qualifications, but attitude can also play a huge role during the decision process. 

The Importance of Knowing your Interviewer

One of the quickest ways to blow an interview is not knowing your interviewer, the industry, or the company itself. I cannot tell you how many times I have had interviews with individuals who have struggled to understand the company they were interviewing for, or had no clue that major industry changes were happening in their field of expertise.

Taking initiative to really research your interviewer, the company, and the industry creates an easier dialogue and connection points for a smooth conversation. It shows that you are knowledgeable and can set you apart from your competition.

Almost all companies have a website or social profiles for you to learn more about your interviewer. Find their LinkedIn profile, look at their bio and learn about their background. What groups do they belong to? Where did they go to school? Do you have any mutual connections? These are questions that give you the ability to create dialogue and questions.

Going into your interview, you should know about any company highlights, recent merges, or downsizes. Google the company, look at their press releases and read through their blog posts. Write down some of these highlights or changes within the company and utilize them as talking points during your interview. This knowledge can help you create leverage when speaking about how your skill set can bring true value to the company.   

Every industry has specific trends, breakthroughs, or major changes. Again, this is where a quick Google search, or a scan on LinkedIn Pulse can come in handy. Take time to browse through a few articles or reports on the industry or field you are in. Interviewers are looking for credible candidates and by having this knowledge, it shows that you really do care about the position you are interviewing for.  

Being prepared is key. Utilizing Google, LinkedIn and looking at PR pieces or blogs on the company you interview for can help transform the standard Q&A interview into a productive conversation.