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.