Job Interview

Getting ready for a job interview? Find out exactly what you shouldn't say, thanks to our partner site DailyWorth:

With unemployment hovering near eight percent, even landing a job interview can be difficult these days. So once you do, you want to make the most of it. Being prepared helps, of course, but the words you choose during the interview can be equally important.

RELATED: How to Ace a Job Interview

Use the wrong ones, warns Success For Hire author and career consultant Alexandra Levit, and you can kill your chances at advancement — even if you’re well-qualified for the job. We asked recruiters for five of the most common culprits and what to say instead.

• "I can do anything."
  Saying this shows you're an up-for-anything go-getter, right? Not so, say recruiters. If you’re one of many candidates for the position (and you probably are), this vague response will just get you lost in the shuffle. "It doesn't give the recruiter a clear idea of what you can do to meet the needs of the job," says talent consultant Carol Watson, founder of recruiting firm Tangerine-Watson. Instead, be specific. Try: "You said you're looking for someone who can do X. Let me tell you about my experience with that."
• "I can try . . . "
  If a hiring manager asks if you feel comfortable doing something you've never done before, it’s tempting to respond: “I can try.” Resist the urge. It suggests that you don't feel confident that you can pull it off, says executive coach Marc Dorio, author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Perfect Job Interview. Opt instead for more decisive phrases like "I do" or "I will" and keep the focus on what you know you can bring to the job.

Read on for more.

Professionalism is always key when it comes to interviewing, but LearnVest says it might be more important to be friendly.

Should you keep things professional when you show up to the interview? Actually, maybe not, according to a new study.

A study published in American Sociological Review found that–especially for new graduates–hiring managers place more weight on your likability than your skills.

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Researchers interviewed 120 professionals involved in undergraduate and graduate hiring at elite U.S. banks, law firms and consulting firms, and it turns out that personal feelings of comfort and excitement for a given candidate were ranked higher than confidence in cognitive and technical skills.

But wait, perhaps this isn’t as groundbreaking as it seems. Notice that this applied to undergraduate and graduate hiring. This is the level where, sure, prospective employees need a baseline of skills. But employers are looking for a good fit for the firm, at which point they will invest in training the new hire.

So, new graduates should definitely make sure to brush up on their people skills–like improving communications skills. And those who have acquired more skills and have been working longer? Well, it can’t hurt.

Check out more from LearnVest:

Tips to Nail That Lunch Interview

The 10 Worst Interview Questions (and the 5 Best)

Follow Up on a Job Application With These 5 Steps

The 2-Minute Secret to Acing That Interview

Going in for a job interview is nerve-racking enough as is, and the last thing you want to worry about is your outfit. Not to worry — we've got you covered with three looks perfect for a corporate or creative job interview. If you're unsure of the dress code, we’ve got a great ensemble that gives a hint of personality while still keeping it professional. Show everyone that you mean business on your next job interview in one of these fabulous outfits. On Allison: Topshop dress, Brian Atwood heels, Banana Republic necklace.

While you're busy scouring job websites online, did you know that the majority of job listings won't pop up in your search? 80 percent of available job positions aren't listed, according to the founder of CollegeRecruiter.com, Steven Rothberg. This brings us back to the importance of networking. Diligently looking for jobs online is helpful, but using your network of friends, family, and work buddies will help you see results faster. Here's a quick guide of tips to getting that job you didn't know existed:

• Informational Meetings: Yes, these informational meetings do actually work. A friend of mine was having trouble finding a job straight out from college, but he started calling around and requested informational meetings with companies who weren't hiring. The result? One company liked him so much, they created a job position for him.
• Make It Known: Tell everyone and your mother that you're looking for a job. Send job blasts out to Facebook, Twitter, emails or just mull about prospects with friends and acquaintances. Sooner or later you'll hear something like, "Hey, I think I might know someone who you can talk to." I remember talking to stranger at a cafe who kindly passed on job leads to me, so take my word for it, you never know who will help you. But remember, don't be pushy. There is a thin line between being aggressive and proactively pursuing a job.
• Go For Coffee: You need to start relationships with people. If you think someone can help you either by giving advice or by passing on your resume to HR, go spend some time with them. Cold calling or cold emailing them doesn't usually work unless you already have good relationship with them. Even if they can't get you an interview with their company, getting advice from someone in the industry is always valuable. And who knows? Maybe you'll be the first to know of any future job openings at her firm or she might refer you to someone who is hiring. Like I mentioned before, don't push too hard. There's nothing worse than making your contact feel like she's being used.
• It's About the Email: I have a friend who's extremely talented at crafting emails, and those emails have gotten her some of the biggest clients in her industry. Wording is really important, and it's very easy to misconstrue something over email — you may sound too aggressive even if you don't mean it. Have friends or professionals look over your emails and give you constructive feedback. What I find really helpful is reading samples of emails my friend sends, so trying asking for some samples from your networking diva friend.

For more tips, read after the jump.

This reader posted in our anonymous Savvy Confessions group wondering how to bring up work hours in a job interview. Do you have any advice for her?

I know that we shouldn't mention work hours in an interview, but it's really important to me as a new mom. I would ideally like regular 9 to 5 hours. Previously, I was in finance so I used to work from 9 to 8. I'm looking for a finance-related job, but I'm more concerned about the work hours rather than the pay. I think I have a pretty robust resume. I graduated from an ivy league university and worked at one of the big banks as an investment banker. I'm not looking to climb the corporate ladder, but I'm more dedicated toward spending time with my new daughter.

Do you think it's OK for me to ask about work hours in an interview as a new mom? Is there any way of bringing up the issue in a tasteful way?

Pose your own anonymous questions or off-load your work confessions by posting in the Savvy Confessions group, and I'll find the right expert to help you out.

This past weekend, I talked in front of a large audience, which definitely gave me a nervous feeling at the pit of my stomach. It's the same feeling I used to get on job interviews — the pressure of wanting to impress, coupled with trying really hard to remember your prep materials and hoping you don't have seaweed stuck on your teeth. I experienced the exact same emotions, just in a different situation and with more eyes watching. If nerves are a problem for you, take note of these tips below which work for both public speaking and interviewing!

• Practice Makes Perfect: The more you prep, the more calm you'll feel before an interview. It's a good idea to accept interviews that you're not really interested in just for the sake of practicing. That way you'll be used to the situation and when it comes to a job you really want
  
• Memorize, Memorize: There are some that advice against it, because it might make your answers seem robotic. However, I think it is a good idea especially because it's hard to offer great on-the-spot answers when you're nervous. If you're more articulate on paper than vocally, write down prescripted answers to questions you think you might be asked on an interview. You don't have to mouth off the answer word for word, just take use chunks of it here and there.
  
• Talk to Friends: Before an interview, call your friends to calm your nerves. That's what I do, and I find that it really helps when your friends offer reassuring words and attempt to take your mind off things. It helps to give you a more positive mindset going in.
  
• Underwear and Imagination: You've probably heard about how picturing people in their underwear lightens the mood. You don't necessarily have to imagine them in their undies, but just remind yourself that your interviewer is human too. He or she has probably gone through a similar grueling interview process. This will probably lessen the intimidation you're feeling, and help your true colors shine.