Landing a dream job is what millions of professionals around the world aspire to. Today, there is more emphasis on having the most sought-after skills and being relevant to the ever-changing job landscape. Even though the competition is intense, what happens after you land the interview? Your words could change your life forever.Interestingly, there is not much focus on how people often subconsciously say things that may jeopardise their prospects, pushing the dream job farther and farther away. Suzy Welch, CEO of Becoming You Media – a company that produces podcasts, workbooks and psychometric tools – shared three lines that should never be uttered during an interview. Welch shared her wisdom in an article in CNBC that she began by citing the misfortune of an MBA student who is smart, well-spoken, genuine and hard-working, yet kept getting rejected repeatedly in job interviews. Perplexed by the student’s situation, Welch asked him to sit for a mock interview, following which she instantly spotted what was wrong. During the interview, when she asked the classic question – “What are your long-term goals?” – the student responded by saying that he wanted to start his own business one day. Also Read | From dream job to layoff: How AI is rewriting tech careersAccording to Welch, the student’s response was like informing the interviewer about his plans to leave the company someday. This, according to the CEO, is one of the three sudden death interview answers. Eventually, the student learnt it the hard way, and he is now back in the game, according to Welch. Here’s more on what she feels are sudden death interview answers:“I value work-life balance and self-care.” Work-life balance and self-care are something that everybody wants; however, listing them as top priorities during a job interview could likely snap your chances instantly. Welch said this could get you disqualified quickly in the eyes of many hiring managers. According to her, companies are interested in knowing that the candidate is motivated, has the drive to win, and that their goals are in line with the company. Productivity and passion matter no matter what job you apply for. The CEO also shared a statistic from the Becoming You Labs that showed 65 per cent of Gen Z identify self-care as a top value. While it is not wrong, in interviews candidates need to strike a balance between it and what the company values. According to Welch, a different and stronger approach would be – “I care about well-being, but I’m most driven by growth, excellence and being part of a high-performing team.” This shows that a candidate is self-aware and also driven.Story continues below this ad“I want to start my own business.”Welch explains that this statement could sound like an exit plan even before entering a company. This essentially means that for a company, a deal with a candidate is unfair. They will continue to pay the salary; for years they will invest in the candidate who will hardly be worth it as they have bigger goals. At most companies, executives believe that new recruits begin to make financial sense after about three years. In this scenario, most companies would be averse to hiring a candidate if they indicate their plan is to leave and work on their own business.Also Read | India must upskill fast to keep up with AI jobs, says new reportWelch said that the MBA student felt that such a statement would make him sound ambitious. While it sounds ambitious, there are better ways to frame it. She shared a better way to convey it – “My career goal is to rise to a leadership position, manifesting my ambition and initiative right here at your company.”“I was let go as part of my company’s recent layoffs.”This may appear to be a typical and innocuous situation. Most experienced executives are aware that during layoffs, companies pick top performers and reassign them to other projects or departments. In this scenario, the hiring manager may wonder why the candidate was simply laid off and not retained. Welch suggests that in such a situation, candidates should explain their situation in more nuanced detail, indicating what they may be thinking. For example, your company was exiting a certain business line entirely, rendering your skills futile in the new setup. The CEO recommends being utmost authentic and saying something like, “The layoffs taught me to constantly be expanding your expertise with training, because business changes constantly.” Story continues below this adWith a challenging job market making it all the more difficult to land interviews, Welch believes that once you get the opportunity, every answer has to be right. In case you ever doubt yourself, then try asking yourself, “Does this answer show that I want to be here and grow here?” If the answer is negative, then rethink and reframe.