“All your excuses are lies.”
I didn’t say it first. Jocko Willink did.
…in a podcast interview when asked how to stop making excuses and get things done. (Jocko Willink is a retired United States Navy SEAL, podcaster, and author of the New York Times bestselling book, “Extreme Ownership.”)
When I first heard it, I thought, “Man, that was real talk.”
It struck me that every time I give reasons to myself to justify why I can’t do or finish something, I always remember, “All my excuses are lies. Lies, lies, lies. They’re lies. I have control over what I do, my thinking, my reactions, my actions, and my decisions, so why am I giving these excuses?”
Like today, I initially planned to produce one piece of content per weekend – that was what I committed myself to do two weeks ago. But something happened last night that took away my focus and energy to write on a Saturday or Sunday – at least I liked to believe that.
I then told myself, since last night until a few hours before I began typing on my keyboard:
I can’t write right now. I’m not feeling it. I’ll do it next week, or tomorrow night when i’m already in the mood. I just can’t. I just want to relax and watch YouTube videos – Michael Jackson’s videos, Stevie wonder’s, Lady Gaga’s rise to fame and over-the-top dresses in video music award nights, or the top 10 super bowl performances.
… or whatever pops up in my recommended section on YouTube that catches my attention.
that’s what I want to do right now.”
And of course, I wanted to believe that those are valid reasons for not fulfilling my commitment to myself.
And then I realized, “All these reasons – they’re just excuses. The truth is that I feel a little lazy today, and I don’t feel ideas flowing quickly enough to finish writing my draft in one sitting.”
This is probably just a minor example of how making excuses prevents one from producing the results they want.
But what about consistent patterns of making excuses on the job that gradually set a person up for failure?
Whether you’re guilty of making these excuses or not, if you’re looking for a job, you don’t want to mess it up, of course. You want to make sure you market yourself in the best way possible to your prospective employer.
Do you know the classic excuses that you should never say in a job interview with a Corporate Recruiter or Hiring Manager? These excuses can have negative implications on the recruiters’ perception of you as a candidate.
Here are seven failure-prone excuses to avoid in a job interview:
1. It wasn’t my fault (that I didn’t do my job well).
What might the interviewer think:
“It’s your job, function, role, and responsibility—for which you are paid. Are you really saying it wasn’t your fault that you didn’t perform well?”
Note: These may vary, of course (as no interviewers or human beings are entirely the same), but be aware that recruiters look for candidates who assume responsibility for the jobs entrusted to them. They’re trained to spot red flags in the job interview and all stages of the process and conduct verification accordingly.
2. It was a bad company.
What might the interviewer think:
“Once you’re hired at our company, if you decide to seek better opportunities elsewhere, will you also speak negatively about us to potential new employers? Are we bringing in someone who could potentially harm our company’s reputation and brand?”
3. Nobody appreciated my work.
What might the interviewer think:
“Sure, it doesn’t feel good when nobody appreciates your work. But is that enough reason not to deliver results and do your job for which you’re paid? What have you done to address this? Have you talked to your superior or manager?”
4. My superior was a real jerk.
What might the interviewer think:
“What if your future boss here is even worse? Will you leave the moment you realize that? We will be investing significant resources into hiring, onboarding, and training you. Will you walk away before the company sees any return on those investments?”
No matter how difficult your current boss is, never badmouth him in front of a recruiter or hiring manager. They might think you’ll do the same when you apply for a new job – just as you’re badmouthing your current or previous employer.
5. I don’t have time, support, and resources.
What might the interviewer think:
“Sure, and you may or may not experience that here too. There’s no perfect company, you know. Does that mean you won’t be able to deliver your results as well? Or will you leave?”
Showing your ability to prioritize and be resourceful is important. Don’t reveal poor time management or resource-gathering skills by making these excuses in the job interview.
6. I’m too young or too old.
What might the interviewer think:
“Sure, so does that mean that will be a hindrance as well?”
7. I’m not a job hopper – I’m just getting lots of experience and advancing my career.
What might the interviewer think:
“Okay, but why did you leave your jobs so soon, so often, and so frequently? How will you gain useful experience and advance your career if you leave before the training and on-the-job learning period ends, before being able to contribute well enough?”
An interviewer may look for cues of possible reasons (e.g., you burn out quickly, have poor relationships at work, or have difficulty adjusting).
Making lots of excuses for why things didn’t go well may imply a lack of ownership and accountability on your part, both in the roles entrusted to you and in your actions and decisions. And that may not be the case.
Avoid such excuses and take full advantage of the opportunity to market yourself better.
Need help in your job search? Contact us! Our job seeker career coaching services are designed to help you navigate the job market, hone your interview skills, and land the job you want.
Also, check out our job search board for the latest opportunities tailored to your skills and interests.
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