Tell the truth. Most jobs require multiple interviews. If you get too creative about your past, it will be difficult to keep your own stories straight. Interviewers take notes. Storytellers usually don't. The people you interview with are the people you will work with and they will remember what you said. Just be honest.
But not too honest. If you hated your boss and your co-workers were inept, you can state simply, It wasn't a positive environment. Or, we didn't always see eye to eye. Wild horses and curious co-workers can drag the whole truth from you, especially during a happy hour, but your job is to stay optimistic and friendly; you never know who knows whom, and bad mouthing a bad manager looks bad no matter how bad the situation was.
Get personal. Your experiences are unique and valuable. Choose to share the positives: I bought a car, my sister won the lottery, my team won the Super Bowl, my customer doubled his order.
But not too personal. You leave early once a week for marriage counseling; you went through treatment; you took time off three jobs ago to recover from a nasty divorce... As your friend, I care deeply. As a manager or colleague, the last thing I need is baggage, even if the baggage was left behind long ago. People today offer way too much information. At work, none of your career choices have anything to do with your personal life. Unless you're asked. Repeatedly. And even then, keep it brief and, as fast as you can, get back to talking about something positive.
At work, people count on you – and pay you - to do the job you were hired to do. Be an expert in your role, stay enthusiastic and keep your conversations light. You are uniquely qualified to be the best at your job. Be that. And leave your criticisms, prejudices, baggage and bad attitude at home.
Julie Desmond is IT Recruiting Manager with George Konik Associates, Inc. Write to Julie at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
