Job Interview: Does Honesty Pay?

The interviewer is primarily interested in one thing during a job interview: establishing the best fit between the candidate's profile and the offered position, and thus finding the most suitable candidate. Therefore, they won't give you a typical questionnaire for which you've prepped rehearsed answers. While the goal is to present yourself in the best light, speaking fluently and clearly about your skills, professional background, and how you plan to integrate this experience into your future professional environment, it's important to be as truthful as possible. This is how the interviewer can best understand your expectations and match them with those of the company. A few examples:

- Temperament Question: You might be asked to list your flaws, and you might be tempted to avoid mentioning that you are a nervous, stressed person. However, what seems like a major flaw might be an asset for a specific position that requires reactivity and a high-energy personality.

- Value-Added Question: Explain what you can bring to the company (which requires some knowledge of the field, the company, and the position), while also indicating your limitations: e.g., no teamwork experience; difficulty with mobility due to a young child…

- Background and Expertise Question: To boost your image, never make the mistake of inventing fake diplomas, claiming to have held higher responsibilities, or taking sole credit for team projects or achievements that are actually due to your supervisor... The risk is that the interviewer will verify your references. The same goes for foreign language skills: the interview could quickly turn into a nightmare if, based on your CV information, the interviewer quizzes you for fifteen minutes in Shakespeare's language.

- Motivation Question: Did you apply for this position because you wanted reduced working hours? Phrase it skillfully by explaining your desire for a better work-life balance... Was your career progression in your previous company hindered by a corrupt management system? Clearly state your priorities.

Houria Abdelghani

Published in October 2010

Posted online December 20, 2010

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