Most job interview suggests focuses on interview queries and answers, as well as behaviors and dress code. Sill there is a tricky aspect of job interviews that is difficult to ignore but beneficial to keep in mind. That is the use of the English language. Part of how you answer job interview queries – and how you relate to your employer – has to do with how you use the English language. Word choice is significant, and there are few casual words that, while they might not kill your interview, may cause you to appear either less professional or less intelligent.
Casual Words During Job Interview
There are many words that we use every day that in several ways are completely harmless. You say these words without a second thought, and most of the time your employer won’t notice. Yet many of these casual words are just that – casual. They don’t help you represent the intelligent, professional worker that you hope to be. There are few words that you should obviously ignore:
- “Dude”
- “Hella”
- “Gonna”
These words are used as slang, and slang should be ignored. No surprise there. Although, there are words that are not remotely slang that should also be avoided, if possible:
- “Best Friend”
- “Mom”
- “School”
These words might seem harmless, and ultimately might not affect your interview, but they are still words that don’t have that professional sound that you need to maintain at interviews. There are hundreds of words just like these that are completely harmless but yet risk causing you to lose that professionalism that you worked so hard to acquire. Try to replace them with more professional sounding words:
- “One of my family members” or “Mother.”
- “Classes” or “University.”
- “Close personal acquaintance.”
Young high school students say they were “going to school.” University graduates say they “Attended classes.”
Choosing Your Words for Job Interview
It might seem minor, and ultimately may not affect your interview, but you should yet try to make sure that all of the words you use maintain the similar professional appearance you’ve worked to maintain. You never know when one little word can cause you to seem less professional.
Take Away Interview Tips
- Avoid such words that sound too casual/young.
- Choose your words very carefully.