It hasn't been this competitive in the job market in a long while.  Be careful when you are interviewing to not get too casual.  Many job seekers over do it when it comes to being "personable" in an interview.  They either start, or completely allow themselves, to get sucked in to a no-win-topic conversation.  Never lose sight of the purpose of your interview, and be mindful of the topics you bring up when you are trying to be "personable."

Here are 7 topics that should be avoided at all costs when you are in an interview. They range from taboo to tabloid to a terrible lack of common sense.

1.  NEVER get into a conversation about politics. The current politically charged environment makes it very tempting because many people are all charged up about their candidate. You have a 50/50 chance that the person you are interviewing with believes the exact opposite of you. Then what about anyone else you might be interviewing with in followup interviews or in panel interviews? If the person you are interviewing with has apparent opposing political views as you have let it go. Avoid political discussions in an interview.

2.  NEVER discuss controversial policy issues. This is a continuation of politics. From a political policy point of view avoid getting sucked into conversations about immigration, the cause of the bailout, election strategies, taxes, government programs, education, etc. Do not assume just because you are talking to a manager or a person at a certain firm’s culture that they must believe a certain way about certain policy issues. People are different and complex and you never know what a person may or may not believe and how deep their convictions about those beliefs are.

3.  NEVER get into a conversation about religion. Never, ever, ever. No matter what is said or asked avoid this topic. This is the king of ideological topics that should be avoided. It is an absolute no win conversation for you. You can easily end up unintentionally offending the interviewer or put yourself into an unfavorable stereotype the interviewer happens to have of the religious information you have just shared.

4.  NEVER discuss or get into a conversation about sex or anything sexual. No inappropriate jokes. Any joke about anything doing with sex or any of the other “Nevers” listed here is inappropriate. Avoid at all costs comments that could even slightly be considered as sexist. No comments about your or other’s sexual preferences.  Don’t say someone is “hot” and don’t say someone is not.

5.  NEVER discuss death. Don’t discuss a family member or friend that has recently passed away. Don’t discuss the death of your pet. Don’t discuss the death of your marriage. No interviewer wants to discuss this. They do not want to hear what a lousy SOB your ex-husband is. Stay away from any topic centered around the death of something or similar depressing information.

6.  NEVER discuss divisive racial issues even about your own race. If you are a diversity candidate and the interviewer wants to discuss appropriate aspects of the firm’s diversity culture and programs this is fine. But, do not dwell on it. Answer, listen and move on.  Never discuss your opinions on racial topics. Keep your opinions good or bad about affirmative action to yourself. Even what you consider to be positive remarks on race should be avoided in an interview.

7.  NEVER discuss the bad details of your employer or coworkers. Even under the context of trying to tell your interviewer why you are interviewing. It is not advisable to go on and on about how unbearable the people you work with and for are. Don’t share all the details of why you were good and they are bad. This is rarely favorably viewed by an interviewer. If done tactfully you can throw your employer or situation under the bus. What you shouldn’t do is keep backing up and re-running over them.

by Darin Manis

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