13 terrible conversation starters you should avoid in a job interview
Flickr/University of the Fraser Valley
The small talk you make with your interviewer can be tricky to get right.
On the one hand, recent research suggests that building rapport with your interviewers before getting into the nitty gritty details of the job can give you an edge over other candidates.
But on the other, it's so easy to flub and start the interview off on an awkward note.
"The secret is to have one to two good open-ended questions that require the person to talk — it lets you show you are a good listener," says J.T. O'Donnell, founder of career-advice site Careerealism.com and author of "Careerealism: The Smart Approach to a Satisfying Career."
What you shouldn't do is open with anything controversial, highly personal, or clumsy, Amanda Augustine, career advice expert for TopResume, tells Business Insider.
"Stick to safer topics that will help your candidacy, while confidently and comfortably breaking the ice at the beginning of your interview," she suggests.
Here are 13 terrible conversation starters you should steer clear of in your next job interview:
Joe Raedle/Getty Images'So, what did you think of Trump's/Clinton's speech last night?'
"Unless you're interviewing for a company that's involved in politics, it's best to stay as far away as possible from this topic during your interview," Augustine says. "As a rule of thumb, avoid discussing politics, religion, and any other highly charged, controversial topics that can easily turn into heated debates."
'The craziest thing happened while I was waiting for my morning coffee!'
Seer clear of talking too much about yourself, warns O'Donnell.
You may feel a need to fill the silence by telling your interviewer about every little funny detail about your day, but this may make you look like you're too much of a talker.
"The rule of thumb is, whatever a candidate does in a interview, multiply it by 10 and that's what they'll be like at work. So, over talking can be a real interview killer," O'Donnell says.
'A woman walks into a bar ...'
"Avoid telling jokes — even if your mom tells you you are hilarious," says Rosalinda Oropeza Randall, an etiquette and civility expert and the author of "Don't Burp in the Boardroom."
See the rest of the story at Business Insider