Striking the balance: navigating honesty in job interviews

We’ve all gotten the dreaded interview question “What’s your biggest weakness?” Of course, the experts say this is just an opportunity to spin the conversation to something that’s actually an asset. But what if this—or another—interview question gets you talking about a positive trait that your future employer could exploit? Could bragging about your work ethic lock you into constant unpaid overtime? Or could an offhand comment about your strong personality make your interviewer assume you’re an obnoxious coworker?

We spoke with negotiation expert, Wharton School faculty member, and author of the book Bring Yourself Mori Taheripour to get her guidance on what to share—and what to be more careful of divulging—in the interview process.

Don’t worry, be human

While Taheripour says it’s probably not a great idea to begin your interview by saying, “Here are all the horrible things about me or the mistakes that I’ve made,” there is something to be said for humanizing the hiring process. Says Taheripour, “Conveying that there can be growth, that you’re not coming in like the perfect, perfect person … makes you both more human and also really thoughtful.” And leveraging your answer into an opportunity to highlight why this company and role are a great fit for you could be the cherry on top of a great response. Taheripour suggests framing it something like, “This has been my experience thus far. I love this company because I think it’ll give me the opportunity to grow even more in these areas.”

There’s a human on the other end, too

Taheripour dismissed the idea that interviewers will latch on to positive qualities for later exploitation—mostly because “everybody gets the same kind of coaching,” so statements like “I’ve never taken a sick day,” are taken with a pinch of salt to begin with. What’s more, U.S. unemployment rates are lower than they’d been since 1969. Recruiters are well aware that today’s job seekers have a variety of options and are unlikely to settle for poor company culture.

Be aware of your audience

Though “authenticity” is an aspirational buzzword, Taheripour remarked, “I don’t think that all of us show up all the time for anything” in our world. But that doesn’t mean that you should fabricate a whole new personality or suppress the things that make you you. Instead, she suggests that job seekers tap into their emotional intelligence and adapt to the audience at hand. Based on the verbal and non-verbal information you’re getting from the interviewer, you can choose which attributes to emphasize and which to downplay.

Mindfulness matters

Being present and attuned to your interviewer can make the whole interview more like a conversation and less like a set of pre-rehearsed, tested responses. And it’s a win-win: on the one hand, says Taheripour, it allows the interviewer to feel like they’re being seen as a human being (always a plus!), and on the other hand, it strategically can help you as the interviewee make decisions about what to say next, “because … you’re noticing more things about this person when you sort of really engage deeply with them.”

When to take care

All of this notwithstanding, Taheripour does suggest that pregnant people, or those with significant caretaking responsibilities at home, may want to choose their disclosure moment wisely: “Company culture, I think, dictates a lot of how comfortable you’re going to be doing that.” Although there are laws in the United States forbidding discrimination against pregnant job applicants, not all employers are welcoming of a new hire who may have to take leave soon after their start date. So use the initial conversations with a prospective employer as a sort of assessment of company culture, and consider waiting until you have the right moment and audience to share your status.

Keep your confidence up

It’s understandable for an interviewee to be nervous that they’ll accidentally let something slip that could negatively impact their time at the company. But, says Taheripour, it’s the particularities of your experience that will ultimately land you a job—and your authentic self is part of what got you this far: “Having confidence in yourself gives you the sort of the green light to be more of yourself, because there’s obviously something there that they selected.” It’s highly unlikely that one exchange will color the interviewer’s entire impression of you.

Key takeaways: how honest should you be in an interview?

A job interview can feel like a minefield, but that doesn’t mean you’re destined for failure. To have a successful interview, follow these guidelines:

• Share your areas for growth as well as accomplishments, and make sure to emphasize how you see this role as part of your professional development.
• Be present with your interviewer, so you can make them feel more seen and adjust your own presentation to meet the situation.
• If you are pregnant or have caregiving responsibilities that may affect your availability, choose when to disclose this information based on the company culture.
• Keep your confidence high—this job may be the next step on your professional journey!

Photo: Welcome to the Jungle

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