Bhinneka News Online: Avoid this common 5-word mistake in job interviews

Monday, June 12, 2023

CNBC Make It Work helps you get ahead in your career.
By Ashton Jackson

Avoid this common 5-word mistake in job interviews, says HR exec

A job interview is the best opportunity to sell yourself to a prospective employer — but one lackluster response could tank your chances of landing the role.

There's one phrase, in particular, you should avoid saying in a job interview, says Angela Santone, AT&T's senior executive vice president of human resources.

Santone, who has 20-plus years of experience working in HR, says she often hears this phrase in response to the common question, "Tell me about a time you made a mistake, and what you learned from it."

"I've always been amazed when I've asked people that question and they say, 'I can't think of one,'" she tells CNBC Make It. "We're all human, we all make mistakes. You want to show your interviewer that you're comfortable talking about those missteps, and, more importantly, that you learned something and grew from that experience."

Instead of giving no response, be honest when describing a mistake you've made to the interviewer, but emphasize how you used that experience to improve your work. That shows that you're self-aware and willing to learn, says Santone.

"There's a delicate line between arrogance and pride," she says. "You have to be mindful of coming across in a way that's authentic and real."

Get Ahead: New York is the worst city to launch your career—see which others made the list

New York City is a popular destination for recent college graduates as they transition into the professional world. Yet the city ranks last on the list of best places to start a career in 2023, according to a recent study from WalletHub, largely due to factors like a saturated job market and an expensive cost of living.

It's not alone in having those drawbacks, though. For recent college graduates and young professionals, here are the top five worst places to start a career in 2023, according to WalletHub.

New York
Gulfport, Mississippi
Newark, New Jersey
Detroit
Santa Clarita, California

Millennial Money: Living On $26,000 a year in Long Beach, CA

Tiara Simmons, 39, is a lawyer in Long Beach, California, and earns roughly $26,000 a year between her job as a law clerk and her social media marketing side hustle.

Are you the 'Dwight' of your office? 3 signs you may be overstepping at work

Do you notice what time your co-workers arrive at work, like Dwight from "The Office?" Or how long they've been away at lunch? Have you met with your boss to discuss a colleague who appears to receive unfair treatment?

While you might think this behavior is helpful and responsible, it's likely your co-workers, and even your boss, don't agree. In fact, they probably think of you as a "workplace vigilante," a title that might not help your reputation in the office.

"Vigilantes tend to be people who believe themselves to be more moral than the average person," says Katy DeCelles, an organizational behavior professor at the University of Toronto. "And most people think that, but it's much stronger and more rigid [in a workplace vigilante]."

To avoid potentially overstepping at work, here are three signs to look out for:

1. You are very concerned with what other people are doing
2. You notice when a co-worker breaks a "rule"
3. You take it upon yourself to reprimand a co-worker

If you recognize yourself in any of these steps, try taking a step back and focusing on your own tasks. You could redirect some of that energy to problems your peers would actually appreciate having solved, DeCelles says.

"Is there something that could really use a vigilant monitor in the office?" she says. "For instance, if someone keeps taking your lunch or leaving the bathroom in a mess."