Have you ever shared too much information during a job interview?

Maybe at the time of the interview it didn’t occur to you, but after the interview you realized that you might have said something the job interviewer didn’t need to know thereby shooting yourself in the leg,

Sometimes we get lost in the moment or too comfortable that we divulge a little bit too much information to our potential future employer, which can hurt your chances at getting the job.

So, what should be our posture during interviews?

How do we raise our guards against sharing too much information at a job interview?

Here are 6 ways to Avoid over sharing of Information during an Interview.

1. Focus on the objective

It’s important to keep the employer’s objectives in mind when interviewing for a highly sought-after position in our experience,

far too many prospective employees shoot themselves in the foot by providing their employers with redundant or completely unnecessary information while in a job interview.

Your future boss is interested in hearing about how you work in a team, they do not care about the fact about your childhood activities

2. Research the Company You’re Interviewing With

Nothing shows your lack of competency more than failing to adequately research the company that is thinking about employing you.

Spending time to go through the company’s website or searching for news articles featuring the company provide you with a reasonable number of details and save you from that awkward point in the interview where you begin to give too much information.

3. Prepare for “What’s Your Weakness?” Question

The question that causes more interview overshares than any other is the “what’s your weakness” question that has become common place.

Before your interview make sure to come up with a pre-fabricated response to this question.

Remember to be honest, but also to emphasize how you have attempted or successfully overcome your weakness in the past.

4. Finding the balance

Between providing too much information and not enough is difficult,

however having the self-awareness to identify if you are an over-sharer is the first step to being able to manage your over-sharing tendencies.

Learn to really listen to the interview question, Often because we are nervous, we don’t really listen to the question we are being asked, we are already thinking how we are going to respond and then we miss the detail/intent of the interview question.

5. Really listen

Pay attention to the interview questions, often because we are nervous, we don’t really listen to the question we are being asked.

We are already thinking how we are going to respond and then we miss the detail/intent of the interview question.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of rambling and sharing irrelevant info because we don’t really know what question we are supposed to be answering.

6. Avoid sharing personal information

Employers don’t want to know details about your personal or family struggles and sharing this type of information could come across as unprofessional and make your interviewer uncomfortable.

You wouldn’t want your potential employer to worry you won’t be able to separate your personal and professional lives or you’ll be bringing family drama to work.

In conclusion;  

if you had a falling with a former boss or co-worker, its best you keep that information to yourself.

if you share this with a potential employer, they might think that you’ll have the same issue with them, or that you’re are the type of employee who likes to look for issues and conflicts.

Once again if the information won’t help you get the job don’t share it.