The Puzzle: Blog

There are plenty of things to keep in mind when you’re interviewing. Speak slowly, make good eye contact if you’re interviewing in person or via Skype, be yourself, ask good questions—the list goes on. And there are plenty of things you shouldn’t do in an interview, particularly in the early stages of the hiring process.

The number one thing not to do, something that might not seem like a no-brainer, is: speaking negatively about your current school.

You might feel that voicing your concerns about your current role would naturally come up; interviewing for a new position does, after all, indicate that your current role leaves something to be desired. But bringing up the faults with your current school—and voicing your complaints too heavily—ultimately reflects poorly on you. Badmouthing your current school—even if your feelings are warranted—can make you appear petty, negative, and disloyal. None of these qualities are particularly attractive to a hiring contact.

So what should you do if an interviewer directly inquires why you’re leaving your current position? Shift toward the positive and the future. You can be vague—you do not have to go into detail about the poorly-run administration or the rift between you and your department head. Instead, focus on what you’re hoping for in your next role. Mention that you’re looking for a change, or a different kind of environment, or that you’ve outgrown the responsibilities in your current position and need a new challenge. Don’t allow yourself to vent—that’s not what the hiring contact is looking for, and it’s not the kind of impression you want to make when interviewing for a new role.

A good interview is many things—insightful, thought-provoking, revealing—but above all, it is positive. A hiring contact may forget some of the specific points of your background and your exact ideas for the future, but he or she will remember how you made him or her feel. Avoid negativity in your interviews. Be yourself, be respectful, and be positive.

Back to Blog

0 Comments

There are no comments on this blog entry.