Don’t Talk Bad About Former Employees

I don’t think I need to speak at length about why you shouldn’t be negative about a former employer in an interview. No one likes negative people. Interviewers will think you’ll talk bad about them some day or carry that same attitude into the workplace. And if you can’t go an hour or two without saying anything bad, it shows a lack of self-control and potentially a lack of character.

But you know what’s even worse? Speaking negatively about a former employee or coworker who left your company, in an interview, or even to your current employees. All those negative connotations and character judgments apply, except now the person you’re interviewing has that perception of you right as they’re deciding if they should join your company. And speaking ill of people to coworkers is just as bad; your employees see what you’re made of, and it can be a morale killer. Imagine being a new hire and one of your first perceptions is your manager going on rants about people who worked there before. Good chance you’d have buyer’s remorse.

Yes, some people suck and can be tough to work with. But if you really need to vent, that’s what your friends and family are for. Don’t say things that will permanently change how your coworkers and employees perceive you.