15 terrible conversation starters you should avoid in a job interview

The small talk you make with your interviewer can be tricky to get right.

On the one hand, 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, the founder of the career-advice site Careerealism.com and the 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, an expert in career advice 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 15 terrible conversation starters you should steer clear of in your next job interview: