If you’ve read my other article, "Interpreting common interview questions and how to answer them", then you’ve picked-up on a theme – the questions being asked aren’t really to be taken at face value. The interviewer is looking for a bit more to the answer than just a quip or canned answer.

As a former outplacement consultant, I’ve done hours of interview preparation and resume writing. What I’ve found is that most job candidates aren’t really prepared for their interview. Through my practice, Retail Consulting Solutions, I offer interview coaching to advise my clients on this very subject, so let’s take a look at some of the most common interview blunders and how to avoid them.

"Man, did I ever hate my last boss."

Okay, so your last boss was a miserable S.O.B. and made your work and personal life miserable by being so miserable. You could probably go on-and-on should the subject be brought up – and it will – you’re going to be asked about your last position.

But this isn’t the time to vent. While you may be completely honest, honesty isn’t always the best policy; professionalism trumps candor in this particular situation. So turn you’re revulsion into a positive about how the relationship, while professional and productive wasn’t quite the right fit. You’ll have to word it in a diplomatic but not rehearsed manner and be ready to articulate why this position/company is right for you and provides a management style that you can flourish in.

Hiring managers can certainly understand candidates that have had a difficult time in a previous position, but don’t make the mistake of going overboard and crying on their shoulder.

"I can’t pretend to know as much about your company as you do."

As in the above instance, honesty isn’t always the best policy, and neither will ignorance make an impressive substitution for lack of understanding. Educate yourself about the company before you go into interview. Interviewers like to know that candidates are familiar with their company, plain and simple. They are looking to hire someone that takes an interest in the company before they’re hired, as someone who does will likely be looking for a long-term career rather than collecting a check on payday.

If you don’t do the research beforehand, the interviewer will take it as an indication of how you unenthusiastically approach your professional life. Becoming educated about a company not only shows interest in that particular company, it shows that you’re willing to invest time outside emailing a resume and coming in for an interview.

"Thank you, but I don't have any questions for you."

You just spent an hour in an interview and you don’t have any questions? Not one? Not possible. You probably had questions before the interview, and unless the interviewer magically answered every one of them, you’ll have some to ask when the time comes. It is also a great save if the interview begins to stall, those questions you had prior to the interview are a great way of getting back into a flowing rapport.

Telling an interviewer you don’t have any questions is the same thing as saying, “Are we done here?” It shows disinterest and a lack of enthusiasm.

But don’t take this advice as meaning asking questions that are inappropriate to the situation. On a first or even second interview, asking about salary and benefits when the interviewer hasn’t yet addressed them is just like saying, “Yeah, yeah, can we cut to the chase and give me how much the gig pays!”

"I'll need to take these days off."

There is a time and place for discussing personal commitments, and this isn’t necessarily the time. The more appropriate time is after you’ve been offered the position but not before any salary negotiations. Should you broach personal needs prior to being offered the job or before salary discussions, you’ll either be suggesting you’ve already got the position or that you don’t intend on taking your responsibilities seriously.

"How much time do I have to put in to get a promotion?"

This says to an interviewer, “I know I don’t have the job yet, but I’m interested in leaving it for a higher position and more money in your company.” You’re not there to leap-frog to a superior title, your there to get the job you came to interview for; showing ambition certainly has it’s place, and this just isn’t it, there are better ways of demonstrating your goal seeking, such as inquiring how the firm’s career path is constituted. This will not only show that you’re looking for a future in the company, but its valuable information to have should you be given a second interview.

"How about you, are you active in your church?"

Asking this is no different than going into a rant about the current or last presidential administration. Your mother told you it’s not polite to discuss religion and politics at the dinner table – consider that advice to include the hiring manager’s office.

While you are trying to develop a relationship, you’re not going on a date or getting to know a college roommate. Keep the conversation professional and don’t venture to far a-field. Asking about hobbies they may enjoy isn’t polite if you’re just fishing for information or trying to resuscitate the conversation.

"Well, as I sophisticatedly pointed out in my refutative deconstruction of the anthropogenic climate change causation argument"

My son is the fifth generation in my lineage; his proper name is Owen Edward Richason V. Sounds like it really stands for something, doesn’t it? My wife says of his name it sounds like he should be “King” (I can’t disagree, since it too is my name and he, my son). I use this as example that is commonly made among interviewees – playing to an esoteric audience when there’s but one person in front of you who isn’t all impressed with your pedantic or high-cultured responses.

Giving a sophistic answer to a simple question will do three things, and neither of them will benefit you: one, it will sound rehearsed and regurgitated; two, it will give the interviewer the impression you take yourself much too seriously and are egocentric – qualities they are definitely not looking for. The third is perhaps the worst; it prevents you from engaging in a dialogue and developing a rapport. What you are doing is sending a signal you are too complex and refined to be among the likes of mere villain.

Instead of pulling out a canned, pretentious answer, try to actually have a conversation and connect on a professional and amicable level.

"I can’t tell you how much I hate..."

Save your tirades for Facebook, Twitter, MySpace or write a blog post. But in the interview, remember to keep it professional, even if the interviewer actually agreed with you, people just don’t care for angry rants and if they disagree, then the damage is even worse.

What’s more is it sends a signal that you harbor a bad attitude or aren’t a team player. Likewise, it sends a message that you are a know-it-all who can’t abide by other’s not doing things your way. And in the very least, tells the interviewer they’re interviewing an HR tattle-tale or someone who’ll bring bad morale to their coworkers.

What you say in the interview and what’s on your resume should align. If you say something in an interview that doesn’t align with what’s on your resume, you’ll send a confused signal.

Before you go into an interview, have your spouse, a sibling, or a friend conduct a mock-interview; it sounds goofy, but take the common questions from this article and have them ask you those questions. I too offer interview prep services through my consulting practice, Retail Consulting Solutions.

Be prepared for the interview. Being prepared is more than dressing appropriately and arriving on time. Have answers ready but not memorized verbatim, you’ll be able to respond adequately without appearing to be over-rehearsed.