Clients often ask about what to say in an interview, what topics to bring up, what questions to ask, etc. Obviously these are very important topics. However, in this age of social media and oversharing, it’s also important to think about what not to share. Interviewers are likely to ask a question or two about your life outside of work. If they don’t ask this sort of question in the first interview, they most likely will in a second interview.
So what can you share?
You can mention your spouse and children (if any) and even a significant other as long as you don’t mention that you live together. You have no way of knowing what beliefs the interviewer holds and it’s much better to be safe than sorry.
You’ll have lots of time to talk about your personal situation once you’re hired and your new employer will Know, Like and Trust you (“Know, Like and Trust” is a new description of the desired characteristics in the ideal business relationship). That’s actually a good guideline to keep in mind about any overly personal situation. You could share about your spouse’s career and/or that your children are in such and such grade and love a particular sport.
You can talk about your hobbies or activities. The point is to seem well-rounded. For example: “I coach my daughter’s soccer team and really enjoy it.” Or, “I really love chess and belong to a club. I was #2 in the club last year!” (That would probably play especially well for a job in IT, analytics or a similar sort of job. )
Coaching a sports team, belonging to a Ski Club, Fine Dining Club or even a Theatre Group might play well for sales or marketing. Obviously you don’t want to create a fantasy life for the interview, but there is a suggestion here that it is a good idea to participate in one or two extracurricular activities that require skills at least indirectly related to your career.
Volunteer activities are excellent topics. They show a desire to contribute to the community. You may well learn new skills in your volunteer gig(s) and you may make helpful networking contacts. You can tell why you chose that activity and what you’ve learned from it. You can also discuss a hobby or two; ideally something somewhat in sync with the position you’re seeking;ie, something people-oriented for extroverts and more cerebral for those seeking a more analytical position.. Another possibility is to choose a hobby/activity that contrasts with your work and explain why that’s appealing to you.
What should you not share?
Health issues can be a red flag implying that you might need a lot of time off.
Family issues — whether they’re in your birth family or in the family you and your spouse have created — can make you sound immature or like someone who doesn’t get along well with others.
You can talk about your involvement in a house of faith, without being specific about the denomination.
I discourage people from coming out as gay, although some people say “If s/he doesn’t want to hire me because I’m gay, then I don’t want to work there.” I think you’ll have plenty of time to share this and other personal things with your work colleagues once you’re on board. Once they know you and trust your work will provide a better time for personal disclosures.
While we’re on the topic of what not to reveal, you need to be very careful about what’s on your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media pages. Pictures and/or references to drinking, drugs or sex are verboten and need to be expunged. Employers and recruiters are checking these more and more frequently.
If you’d like to discuss how to prepare for your upcoming interviews, please contact us at jlansky@lanskycareerconsultants.com or call Judi at (312) 285-2000.
