If you say this during your job interview, you will definitely not get that new job

Can you completely ruin your application with a few words? That is certainly possible. Because if you say this during your job interview, well... Then there is no saving it.

It even seems like an innocent question. Somewhere you think: I can ask this, right?

But picture this. You're sitting in front of a potential employer, a first interview, getting to know each other. You tell something about who you are, what you're good at, what you’re not so good at or what you’d like to learn… But then. At the end of a job interview, a question is usually asked like: ‘Do you have any questions?’. That’s your moment. You can then ask anything that you find unclear about the position. But be careful: there’s one thing you really shouldn’t ask at this moment in a conversation. And that is: ‘How many vacation days do I actually get?’.

Ouch. It may seem like a kind of interested question, but it completely misses the mark. You come across as lazy and complacent… As if you’re only in the game for the money, and for the days off, which you then get paid for. The best time to talk about secondary employment conditions like vacation days is when you actually receive an offer, or if the employer brings up the topic themselves.

Two more crucial no-go’s: complaining about your previous employer. Or the boss you’re still working for, but want to leave. ‘Oh, my boss is so terribly exhausting right now!’. Don’t say things like that… Please. It comes across as very unprofessional. And the other bad remark is: ‘How quickly is there a possibility for promotion?’. It comes off as a bit arrogant, as if you don’t take this position seriously yet.

And psst, you can be vulnerable, you know. If you’re asked about your weaknesses, it’s never a good idea to say that you don’t have any. This comes across as arrogant or as someone who lacks self-awareness. Everyone has areas for improvement, and employers appreciate honesty and self-reflection. Good. Quite a few red flags in a job application, but from now on you know them. So hop, go get that job. You can do it – and on average, you get 25 vacation days. Just assume that in silence.