What NOT to say in an Interview

Do not say "cant" or "I dont know if we can"...

Obviously do not trash former or current bosses or coworkers.

dont talk about how much you just spent on your suit.

The truth hurts sometimes.

The last question at my interview was: "Do you like to drink beer?" How do you answer that? I figured that I either got the job or this guy is a ______ and don't want to work for him anyways! So I told the truth... and got the job.

I have to share this. I once had what I refer to as a "beating" at an interview. I could tell that I was not their man by some of the S-T-U-P-I-D comments made about my xs and os.

I once told one of the interviewers "well, SOMEONE has to take the blame for hiring the last guy" - you might want to avoid saying that if you actually think you have a chance to get the job.

I think the key is to be honest. I have missed out on jobs in the past because I was so focused on impressing the interviewers with the "right" answer.

Truth of the matter is that any AD or principal worth working for knows bull$hit when they smell it. I am at a point now where when I am asked a question, I give my honest answer and, more times than not, that has been appreciated.

For example, last interview I was at, I was asked how I would relate to parents. Rather than giving them some BS answer, I was honest...I said that, because it had been my experience that MOST parents are focused on what they believe is best for their son and NOT what is in the team's best interest, I am wary about getting too close to parents and tend to keep them at arm's reach. I followed that up with an anecdote about a time I was burned by a parent who I thought was a friend (because they thought I was not giving his son a fair chance even the kid was lazy and not very good).

Also, the principal at this interview was really adamant about me taking a teaching job at this school. I told him that, at this time, I was not looking for a new teaching job. I did not want to tell the guy that I wanted to teach at the school to get the job and then, in 4 months, when a job comes open that I am qualified for, I would end up telling him that I wasn't interested. So, I was honest about wanting to coach but not to teach at this school.

I thought it would be a real dealbreaker, but I ended up getting the job. So, I don't know if there is anything that is "off limits"...instead, you need to look at the interview to see if it is a good fit for YOU as well as a good fit for THEM. If they don't appreciate honesty and candor, it is probably a place you don't want to work. Just my opinion.

Man can we have a funny version of this post???

There could be some real beauties on what not to say.

What have people said they shouldn't have.
Crazy interview questions.

Fictional or not Q and A's. You could have some fun with this one!!!

We interviewed a guy last year. We really wanted him and kind of coached him before the interview with the principal. Well he does great all the through...until...she asks him what he thinks his biggest weakness in the classroom is. His reply, "I honestly think my classroom management is not very good. I have a problem controlling kids in the class."

Nice.

Slightly changing direction, have any of you ever been in an interview and halfway through, realized that you had no chance for the job? I had one a few years back and thought I had a good shot at getting hired. However, about midway through, I realized that the hiring committee probably only gave me a courtesy interview... I could tell they weren't interested in what I was saying and they already had their guy in mind (sure enough, a few weeks later they hired one of the administrator's best friends).

Anyway, maybe this has happened to someone else on here. Part of me just wishes that I had the guts or audacity back then to say what I really wanted to say - which probably would have fit right in on this thread!

I had one of those a few years ago...interviewed for an OC position at a big high school (about 2500 kids). About 5 minutes into the interview, I realized that I had no business interviewing for the job and that I had A LOT to learn before I could even think about trying for one of those positions ever again. The head coach who was interviewing me...guy was really nice and was trying to help me out as I sputtered out nonsense and contradicted myself.

Here's a picture of about how the interview went:

"scuse me, yall got a cup for my chew?"

Asking for a cup does show good manners. They might knock you down on organization for not bringing your own.

I was once asked at an interview :

"How do you plan to address the kicking game. We have really struggled with field goals and extra points in the past"

And I said " I will be in touch with the soccer coach and work it out so that we have two or three soccer players that can kick on friday night"

.................after a dead silent long pause one of the women on the board says " We uh, do not have a soccer team"

My interview was pretty well over at that point.

I once went through an excruciating round robin interview before a committee of 18 people! I was in a suit and it was over 100 in there. After an hour and a half of this I decided that no job was worth this. I stood up and looked at the female principal saying,"Honey, take my name out of the hat. You people don't have enough money to get me here." My only regret was that I didn't say it 80 minutes sooner.

If you have any "red flags" then get out quick. I think it is going to be an uphill struggle for me now that I reflect on the interview process one year later. I still think this program can be turned around but those who hired me will have to remember that I clearly stated how, when, and with who I was going to get the job done.

Don't take a job, just to take it. Ask them if they want to do everything it takes to win a state championship? Lay out your plan for winning a state championship and if they are o.k. with winning a little bit, then they are o.k. with losing a lot.