Comments on: DON’T Be Yourself In A Job Interview

By: How to prepare for an interview | The Wisdom Journal

How to prepare for an interview | The Wisdom Journal — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 11:07:20 +0000

[...] about how to answer each. As part of your preparation for your interview, take the time to prepare YOUR honest answers to each question by focusing on the job’s specific requirements and your personal [...]

By: How to Survive a Company Layoff | Frugal Dad

How to Survive a Company Layoff | Frugal Dad — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:05:41 +0000

[...] in touch with other colleagues who have been rehired and ask them for any leads. Brush up on your interview skills. Learn what not to do in an interview. Treat this job search as your full time job. Sure, it would [...]

By: Ron

Ron — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 02:53:35 +0000

Hello Lily,

I agree with your premise, and I think you basically agree with mine! What I’m saying is two fold:
–Be on your game when you go to an interview.
–If you don’t want to be on your game, cancel it.

I interview scores of people every year and it always amazes me how someone will come in, totally unprepared, dressed like they were lounging around the house, and using crude “bathroom” language. Then they’re dumbfounded why they didn’t get the position even though their credentials were outstanding.

Credentials only get you in the door. Acting like a professional when you get there will help you land the position. If you don’t want to act like a professional and work in a professional environment, cancel the interview and start looking for a position that will accommodate your personality.

Maybe “acting” is the wrong word. How ’bout BE a professional?

By: Lily

Lily — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 13:17:48 +0000

I sort of disagree. Sure, everyone should dress professionally for interviews. But if they started chanting the mantra, “Don’t be myself, be my professional self,” then they’ll probably start acting differently, maybe stiffer as they overthink acting professionally.

Having participated as interviewer and interviewee in multiple rounds of interviews, I have to say that you may get a second-round interview by being professional and smart, but you won’t get the job unless you seem like a real person, not a white-collar robot.

I realize that you’re not advocating a change in personality, but I think the change in personality is just a natural result of thinking in terms of a “professional self” that’s distinct from the real self.

By: Ron

Ron — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:31:52 +0000

Hey Skipper
Thanks for commenting. No. I’m not saying anyone should fake anything. What I am saying is to bring out the best “self” you can when you go to an interview. Some people, in an attempt to “be themselves,” show up with 2 days growth of a beard, in a very casual style of dress, and let their language get just a little crude. They think, “Hey, I am what I am. I just gotta be me.” If that’s the case, that person needs to expect to look for a long time to find a job in a professional office setting. Otherwise, they might have to be resigned to working manual labor, minimum wage type jobs.

By: skipper

skipper — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:50:28 +0000

The title of this post got me interested.
When someone goes to an interview, they need to look good and be on their best behavior. I dont think they need to act different than normal thoough.

If the job doesn’t fit there normal way of living should they just fake it?