If you're a career mom, you've worked hard to get where you are. You've juggled work and home life, put in long hours at the office, wrangled your to do lists, and made time for your family. You're talented, smart, and deserve that job offer. Don't blow it all by making one of these common mistakes in your job interview!

You have what it takes to move ahead on your career path - show them what you've got!

Common Interview Mistakes to Avoid

1. Don't talk about your personal life

While you may be proud to be a working mom, it can be a good idea to save talk of kids and family until after the offer is accepted. You don't want to come across and unprofessional or risk the impression that you will be distracted or unfocused at work.

The same goes for your hobbies and interests. These don't have a place in the job interview unless they are directly relevant to the role. You don't want to give the interviewer the impression that you're not fully invested in the job or that you might leave to turn one of your hobbies into a business of your own 6 months into the new job.

Companies really shouldn't ask your about your personal life in interviews, but if a hiring manager does ask, keep your answer short and sweet. For example, if you're asked about your family, instead of going on a long tangent about your children, you can say something like, "I have a wonderful family, thank you for asking."

You don't need to sound like a robot, but in general it's best to stick to discussing your professional accomplishments and goals. While being a mother is super-important, and your time management skills are top-notch, your professional qualifications are what the interviewer wants to hear about!

2. Don't badmouth your old boss or company

It's important to be positive in an interview, even if you're talking about your current or previous job. No one wants to hire someone who is negative and will badmouth their old boss or company. It makes you sound unprofessional and difficult to work with, and makes them worry what you might say about them in the future if they hire you!

If you're asked about a challenging situation at your current or previous job, try to frame it in a positive light. For example, "I learned a lot from that experience" or "It was a great opportunity to hone my skills."

Remember, most interviewers are looking for reasons to hire you, not reasons to pass you over. Keep that in mind when answering interview questions, and avoid saying anything negative about your old boss or company.

3. Don't lie about your qualifications or experience

It goes without saying, but it’s important to be honest in an interview. Don't lie about your qualifications, educational background, or professional experience because chances are the interviewer will find out eventually.

If you don't have a specific skill or qualification from the job description, it's better to answer honestly and explain why you're interested and why you think you would still be a good fit, even if you don't have all of the required qualifications. For example, "I'm passionate about this topic and I have a lot of experience with X, which I think would make me a great fit for the job."

Lying about your qualifications or experience is not going to get you the job, and it will only come back to bite you down the road. Be honest from the start, and focus on explaining how you can overcome any perceived gaps in experience.

4. Don't answer with a simple "yes" or "no"

In an interview, it's important to give more than just simple "yes" or "no" answers to interview questions. This could create the impression that you're not thinking about the question and you're not fully engaged in the conversation.

Take some time to think about the question before answering, and try to elaborate or provide an example along with your answers to every question. For example, if you're asked whether you have experience with a certain software program, you could say something like, "Yes, I have used it extensively for X purpose."

Answering with examples, and not just a simple "yes" or "no" shows the hiring manager that you're paying attention and paints a picture for the interviewer about the depth of your skills and experience. It's a small thing, but it can make a big impression and show that you are qualified for the job!

5. Don't say "I don't have any questions"

It's important to have questions prepared for the interviewer. This shows that you're interested in the job and the company, have done your research, and it gives you an opportunity to learn more about them.

If you don't have any questions, it sends the message that you're not really interested or invested in the role. The interviewer will wonder why you even bothered to come to the interview if you're not interested in learning more about the job!

Do a quick online search for the company so that you can come across as interested and informed.

Some good questions to ask include:

What are the day-to-day responsibilities of this position?
What are some challenges I can expect to face in this role?
What is your management style?
Can you tell me a bit about the team?

Prepare some more specific and tailored questions as well if you really want to stand out from the competition.

6. Don't be too blunt about why you're leaving

In an interview, you should avoid being too blunt about why you're leaving your old job. This can make you sound unprofessional or difficult to work with, and it's not going to endear you to the interviewer.

If you're asked about your reasons for leaving, try to frame it in a positive light. For example, if you got passed over for promotion you can say "I'm looking for an opportunity to take on greater responsibility" or "I am pursuing the next step in my career development."

If your current work hours are too long or you don't like your boss, you can say "I'm looking to work somewhere with an excellent culture." If you're leaving to get a better salary, you can say "I'm looking for somewhere that I can grow in my career."

Remember, the interviewer is trying to decide if they want to hire you, so it's important to present yourself in the best possible light if you want to land a new job. Avoid saying anything negative about your old job or boss, and focus on how this new role is a better fit for you.

7. Don't ask about salary or benefits until the end of the interview

It's important to avoid asking about salary and benefits too early in the interview process. This shows that you're interested in the job itself, and not just the compensation.

If you bring up salary or benefits too early, it can make you look greedy or uninterested in the role. The interviewer will wonder if you're really looking for a new challenge, or if you're just going to leave in 6 months to get more money.

Save questions about salary and benefits for after the interviewer has made an offer. This shows that you're interested in working for them, and not just any company! If they haven't brought up compensation by the end of the interview, then it's appropriate to ask about it at that time.

You can say "This sounds like an exciting opportunity and I think I'd be a great fit for the team. I just want to make sure that we're aligned on salary. Can you share the salary range for this position?"

8. Don't ask about work-life balance

Looking for a position that will work with auditions or allow you to telecommute or take care of a sick child without all the mom guilt? That's ok! While many employers may be turned off by you asking directly about work-life balance, there are other ways that you can learn about the workload and office culture. Ask questions and listen carefully to the answers and you will get a sense of how your potential new employer would support you as a working mom.

Some good questions to ask instead include:

What are the expectations for this role?
How often are employees expected to work overtime?
What is the vacation policy?
Can you tell me a bit about the team's dynamic?
Do people usually work from home or in the office?

Asking questions during the job interview about workload and office culture will give you a better idea of what to expect if you're offered the job. And if the answer isn't what you're looking for, it's better to know that before you accept an offer!

Work-life balance is important, especially for working mothers with a to do list a mile long and child care challenges to navigate, but it's not something that you should bring up directly in a job interview. While it’s really unfair that asking about work life balance could make you seem uncommitted, try some of these questions instead and you can get the information you need to make the right decision for you.

Takeaway:

In order to make the best impression in an interview, it’s important to avoid saying or doing anything that could damage your chances of getting the job throughout the hiring process. We hope our advice has helped you understand what not to do in an interview, and what you can do instead to increase your chances of landing the job.

If you need help to prepare for an upcoming interview or want feedback on how you did in your last one, don’t hesitate to book an interview coaching session. Our team of experts can help you polish your interviewing skills and give you the edge you need to get the job offer.

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Don't Say These 8 Things in a Job Interview: Common Mistakes to Avoid