Avoid All Liability Proxies: Be Careful with What You Say!
We have discussed the damage that can be caused by the wrong proxies. It is best to avoid them altogether, but sometimes it might be impossible. In those cases, there is a better language that one can use to avoid the potential of being a victim of wrong interpretations. To best describe how to do it, I thought that it would be appropriate to take the “wrong” language I used in the earlier example, and show how to use “better” language that is much less vulnerable to “wrong” inferences. Clearly, there are thousands of variations of the actual language that can be used, but the examples below will give you a directional idea. In general, they suggest using “softer” language, giving more of a hint, rather than stating something directly, avoiding being adamant, avoiding criticizing others, and so on.
“My coworkers were not as hardworking . . .” Use instead:
•The contribution by team members varied somewhat.
•The performance of the team members wasn’t as even as I would have liked it to be.
“I didn’t agree with my boss . . .” Use instead:
•Although I clearly understood my boss’s logic, I had a somewhat different perspective.
“People working for that company are not very happy . . .” Use instead:
•It appeared to me that some employees might not have been as happy working there.
“I was trying to tell them, but they didn’t listen to me . . .” Use instead:
•I wasn’t completely convinced that the team reached the right conclusions. I had a somewhat different perspective and wanted to share it with the team. I was unable to change the team’s convictions.
Using the word “I” too often.
•There is no alternative, so try to use “we,” “the team,” “the department,” and so on when you can.
“I hear you, but I still think that I am right . . .” Use instead:
•You bring up some interesting points. All in all, though, I’m not convinced that my observation is completely invalid. It still appears to me to have some merit.
Maintaining an opinion even after a second challenge from the interviewer. Use instead:
•Again, you bring up very good points, but somehow I still feel that there is some merit in what I said.
Using definitive words such as “I know,” “I’m sure,” “always,” “never,” “absolutely,” “definitely,” “there is no way,” “the best,” “the greatest,” “the most,” “the least,” “the worst,” and so on. Use instead:
•“likely,” “probably,” “I would expect that,” “may not be the best solution,” “looks like something that will likely work,” “it appears to me that,” “doesn’t sound as convincing to me,” “in some cases,” “in many cases,” “in most cases,” “seems a little better to me,” “doesn’t seem as bad to me,” and so on.
Obvious self-promotion or self-compliments of any kind during an interview, without specifically being asked to make such a reference. Avoid it, but if you cannot, use instead:
•“I would hate to take credit, but it just so happened that . . .”
•“I believe that I am reasonably good at . . .”
•“I was told that I am reasonably good at . . .”
•“I’ve been told by managers that I am good at . . .”
Other Observations and Recommendations Regarding Potential “Liabilities”
•Never try to cover up or excuse mistakes or lack of knowledge.
I mentioned earlier in the book that there is nothing wrong with admitting mistakes or that you might not know something. It may likely be fatal if you don’t follow this advice in an interview.
It is not only true in interviews, but at work as well. Mistakes are most likely to be forgiven, but a cover-up is never looked upon favorably. Don’t ever guess at an answer and take the risk of making an incorrect guess. If you feel like you must take a guess, for whatever reason, make sure you explain that it is a guess, just in case you might be wrong. A good way to position it would be, “I’m not sure I know the answer, but if I had to take a guess, I would say that . . .”
•Be relaxed in interviews.
Being nervous or tense is generally taken as a sign of a lack of maturity, while a relaxed posture is taken for maturity and confidence. There is no need to show any deference to the interviewer, no matter what their title and position might be. I always recommend to candidates in an interview that they behave as if speaking with a friend or family member who is there to help with some good advice.
•In an interview, be friendly and always smile, smile, smile. First, being friendly and smiling makes you appear more relaxed, and that is always preferred. Second, people react more positively to people who smile, rather than always having a serious countenance.
We have covered all the important topics I wanted to discuss about how to interview well. There are only two things left to give you, which are a list of “smart” questions to ask interviewers and a list of the “typical” questions that you should expect to be asked in interviews so that you can be well prepared to answer them.