You just received an invitation to interview for a job you would love to land. Your skills and experience match what the company is looking for, but you’ll still need to make a good impression during the interview. Most of that impression will be determined by what you say, and there are some things that you never want to say to a hiring manager.

None of these statements will help your chances, and a few of them could get you eliminated on the spot. Here are seven things you need to avoid saying to an interviewer if you want to stay in the running as a candidate:

“This will be the perfect stepping stone for my next career.”

What? Unless this is a temporary job, you’ll be taking yourself out of contention by saying this. Hiring managers are typically looking for candidates who display a long-term commitment to the company. While you might be using this job as a stepping stone, don’t make the mistake of announcing it. Instead, ask questions about opportunities for moving up in the organization, which shows you intend to stick around for the long haul.

“What does this company make?”

Asking a question like this shows you failed to do any research into the company, which is a major blunder. Candidates are expected to come into an interview adequately prepared. If you’re not, you’ll lose out to those who have done their research.

“My last boss was a real jerk.”

When you gripe about your last company, hiring managers look into the future and see you complaining about their company. You can talk about the challenges you faced at your last job, but let the interviewer know how you coped with them and moved forward. The last thing you want to sound like during an interview is a whiner!

“I doubt that there is anyone more qualified than me.”

Baseless boasting during an interview will not impress anyone. After all, how can you possibly know the qualifications of the other candidates? Tell the interviewer about the things that make you special, rather than just bragging that you are.

“I’ve never done this type of work before, but…”

You don’t need to point out your lack of experience; it’s on your resume. What you need to emphasize is the relationship between your skills and experiences and the requirements of the job. This is your chance to tell the hiring manager why you’re a good fit for the job, even though it doesn’t look like it on paper.

“I don’t know.”

While it’s altogether possible that you’ll be asked a question you’re unsure of, you need to use your communication skills to come up with a more intelligent-sounding response than “I don’t know.”

“I don’t have any questions for you.”

An important part of preparing for an interview is coming in with a few well-thought-out questions for the interviewer. It’s nearly as important as being ready to answer any questions that are directed at you.

Do you have an interview coming up?

We can help you prepare for it. Get in touch with HCR Personnel Solutions, a leading manufacturing recruitment agency in Canada that recruits top professionals for exceptional career opportunities.