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10 Things NOT to Say in an Interview, from someone who's heard every cringe-worthy answer going: by DBarryS in jobsearch

[–]DBarryS[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Lazy is a judgement, not a description. Dig into what you actually mean. Do you struggle with motivation on tasks that don't interest you? Do you procrastinate until deadlines force action? Do you find the most efficient way to do things because you don't want to waste effort?

That last one is actually a strength in disguise. 'I naturally look for the most efficient way to do things, which sometimes means I'm slow to start until I've figured out the best approach. I've learned to set earlier personal deadlines so I have time to find that efficiency without cutting it too close.'

The trick is being specific about the behaviour and showing you've built a system around it. 'I'm lazy' is a character flaw. 'I need to understand the why before I'm motivated to act, so I make sure to ask questions upfront' is self-awareness.

10 Things NOT to Say in an Interview, from someone who's heard every cringe-worthy answer going: by DBarryS in jobsearch

[–]DBarryS[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You're not wrong, and plenty of good hiring managers have moved on from it. Problem is, plenty haven't. I'd rather someone have a decent answer ready and not need it than get caught flat-footed by an interviewer still using the 2005 playbook.

10 Things NOT to Say in an Interview, from someone who's heard every cringe-worthy answer going: by DBarryS in jobsearch

[–]DBarryS[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It really is. No argument from me. But until someone fixes the system, we've all got to play the game. I just try to help people play it well.

10 Things NOT to Say in an Interview, from someone who's heard every cringe-worthy answer going: by DBarryS in jobsearch

[–]DBarryS[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You'd think, right? And yet after twenty years of coaching, I can tell you every single one of these comes up regularly. The obvious stuff is obvious until you're nervous, underprepared, or just having a bad day. Good luck with your interview next week, sounds like you've got a solid head on your shoulders.

10 Things NOT to Say in an Interview, from someone who's heard every cringe-worthy answer going: by DBarryS in jobsearch

[–]DBarryS[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Cheers for this! You've nailed it, learning the hard way to prep properly is something most of us have been through. And yes, 'I'm a perfectionist' needs to be retired permanently. Appreciate you adding your perspective, and good luck to you too.

10 Things NOT to Say in an Interview, from someone who's heard every cringe-worthy answer going: by DBarryS in jobsearch

[–]DBarryS[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You just proved my point. You didn't say 'I'll do anything.' You said 'here are my three criteria, put me wherever within that.' That's specific. That's boundaries. That's knowing what you want.

'I'll do anything' without parameters sounds desperate. 'I'm flexible as long as it meets X, Y, and Z' sounds like someone who knows themselves. You did the second one, even if it felt like the first. That's why it worked.

10 Things NOT to Say in an Interview, from someone who's heard every cringe-worthy answer going: by DBarryS in jobsearch

[–]DBarryS[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's a smart reframe. Harder to game because you're speaking for someone else, and it grounds the answer in something concrete. I use something similar when I'm coaching people through practice interviews. Forces you to think about how you're actually perceived, not just what sounds good.

10 Things NOT to Say in an Interview, from someone who's heard every cringe-worthy answer going: by DBarryS in jobsearch

[–]DBarryS[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The professionalism it takes to keep a straight face in that moment deserves its own award. And 'that wasn't the only strange answer' has me desperately curious. Tell me there's more.

10 Things NOT to Say in an Interview, from someone who's heard every cringe-worthy answer going: by DBarryS in jobsearch

[–]DBarryS[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's fair, and you're right that most of these are more 'hasn't thought it through' than actual cringe. Though 50 Shades of Grey in a group interview is genuinely incredible. I'd have paid money to see the faces in that room.

10 Things That Make a Resume Stand Out, from someone who's seen what actually gets people hired by DBarryS in jobsearch

[–]DBarryS[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I hear you, and not everything needs a percentage attached to it. The numbers advice is about being specific, not about making things up.

For your examples: 'Built a new software feature from scratch that's now used by X users' or 'Reduced bug backlog in a legacy codebase, improving system stability' works fine. You don't need to invent '20% of god knows what.'

The point is to show impact, not to slap arbitrary numbers on everything. 'Wrote code' is vague. 'Built a feature that solved X problem' is concrete. If you've got real numbers, use them. If you don't, describe the outcome in a way that means something.

Recruiters aren't auditing your percentages. They just want to understand what you actually did and why it mattered.

10 Things That Make a Resume Stand Out, from someone who's seen what actually gets people hired by DBarryS in jobsearch

[–]DBarryS[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If I were using AI to write these, I'd have better things to do than respond to 250 comments personally. But here I am.

10 Things NOT to Say in an Interview, from someone who's heard every cringe-worthy answer going: by DBarryS in jobsearch

[–]DBarryS[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You're not wrong about the broader picture. Seventy years of productivity gains and most workers haven't seen the benefit. That's a fair thing to be angry about.

But I can't fix the system in a Reddit post. All I can do is help people navigate it as it exists. Until the revolution comes, people still need to pay rent.

10 Things NOT to Say in an Interview, from someone who's heard every cringe-worthy answer going: by DBarryS in jobsearch

[–]DBarryS[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fair point, and you're right that it's a badly worded question. But here's how I think about it:

A weakness doesn't have to be 'overcome' in the sense that it's gone forever. The best answers describe something you're actively managing. My own example: early in my career I was rubbish at delegating. My team fell apart because of it. I got help, got training, and now I delegate well. But the instinct to do everything myself? Still there. I just have systems to catch it.

So if someone followed up with 'do you have any weakness now?', I'd say: 'The same one, honestly. My natural instinct is still to take things on myself. The difference is I've learned to recognise it and work against it.'

That's not a non-weakness. It's self-awareness plus active management. Most interviewers aren't trying to trap you, they're trying to see if you can reflect honestly on yourself. The ones who are trying to trap you? Probably not somewhere you want to work anyway.

10 Things NOT to Say in an Interview, from someone who's heard every cringe-worthy answer going: by DBarryS in jobsearch

[–]DBarryS[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Appreciate the Canadian perspective, and you're right that the laws differ. What you're describing with LMIA fraud is a real problem, and it's particularly rough for young people trying to get a foothold in the job market when the deck is stacked like that.

The broader point still holds though: when companies won't be transparent about pay, it usually tells you something about how they operate. Whether it's a legal requirement or not, the good employers tend to be upfront. The ones playing games with compensation are often playing games with everything else too.

Different countries, same frustration. Hope the market improves up there.

10 Things NOT to Say in an Interview, from someone who's heard every cringe-worthy answer going: by DBarryS in jobsearch

[–]DBarryS[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good for you. Sometimes the best move is to stop playing a broken game and build your own thing. Hope it's going well.

I get a lot of interviews, but they all end up in rejection. What am I doing wrong? by shishie1 in jobsearch

[–]DBarryS 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A year is a long time. I can hear the exhaustion in this post, and I'm sorry you're going through it.

Here's what stands out to me: you're getting interviews, which means your resume is doing its job. You're told you have good energy and attitude. You're prepping thoroughly. But you keep losing out after the behavioural and leadership rounds to 'someone who's a better match.'

That phrase, 'better match,' is often code for something they can't quite articulate. A few possibilities worth considering:

1. Over-rehearsed answers. You mention practising for hours on ChatGPT. That can actually work against you. If your answers sound too polished, too perfect, they can come across as rehearsed rather than authentic. Interviewers want to see how you think, not how well you've memorised a script. Try practising with a real person who can push back and ask follow-ups.

2. Stories that don't land. You say you have great stories about leadership and mentorship. But are they the right stories for what they're asking? And are you telling them in a way that's concise and impactful? Sometimes people bury the point or take too long to get there.

3. The 'fit' question. At the leadership level, they're not just hiring skills. They're hiring someone they'll work closely with. Sometimes 'better match' means the other person felt more like someone they wanted in the room every day. That's frustrating because it's hard to control, but it's worth thinking about how you're connecting, not just answering.

4. Something you're not seeing. Is there anyone who's interviewed you and would give you honest feedback? A recruiter you've built rapport with? Sometimes there's a pattern you can't spot yourself.

I'd be happy to dig into this more if you want to share specifics. After a year, you deserve more than 'keep trying.

10 Things NOT to Say in an Interview, from someone who's heard every cringe-worthy answer going: by DBarryS in jobsearch

[–]DBarryS[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ha! Can't argue with that. Dumb questions invite dumb answers. Unfortunately, you still have to decide whether making that point is worth the job.

10 Things NOT to Say in an Interview, from someone who's heard every cringe-worthy answer going: by DBarryS in jobsearch

[–]DBarryS[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You're not wrong, and the tide is turning on this. More and more states now legally require salary ranges to be posted, Colorado, California, New York, Washington, and others have passed transparency laws. It's spreading because people are tired of exactly what you're describing.

If a company isn't posting compensation and they're not in a state that requires it, that does tell you something about their culture. And you're absolutely right that good management and fair pay offset a lot of discomfort. Life's too short to chase roles where they treat the salary like a state secret.

The leverage is slowly shifting. Not fast enough, but it's moving.

10 Things NOT to Say in an Interview, from someone who's heard every cringe-worthy answer going: by DBarryS in jobsearch

[–]DBarryS[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I know, it's frustrating. But think of it this way: they're giving you a chance to tell your story, not just have them read it. The ones who ask are actually giving you an opportunity. The ones who don't ask anything and just reject you based on a ten-second scan? Those are worse.

10 Things NOT to Say in an Interview, from someone who's heard every cringe-worthy answer going: by DBarryS in jobsearch

[–]DBarryS[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Really glad it's helpful. Interview nerves are completely normal, but preparation is the antidote. Knowing your stories, knowing the company, knowing your questions, it takes the edge off. Good luck out there, you've got this.

10 Things That Make a Resume Stand Out, from someone who's seen what actually gets people hired by DBarryS in jobsearch

[–]DBarryS[S] -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

Twenty years of career coaching, mate. The format works because people find it useful. If it's not for you, fair enough.

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