By: Apurva Anand
When was the last time you conducted an interview, was interviewed, or watched an interview on television? Isn’t it not that long ago?
We would have all witnessed an interview between a politician and a reporter. In such interviews, the politician tries to equivocate and avoids giving direct answers, and in the majority of cases, they outright lie. A reporter, on the other hand, strives to elevate the politician and his profession in order to ensure that he returns to the show the next time.
An interview between a job applicant and an employer is not all that different. Here, the job seeker aka future employee does his best to pitch himself as the best candidate for the position by demonstrating that even his flaws are a valuable contribution to the firm. On the other side, the employer does everything in his power to advertise the benefits of working for his company, and thus most of the time lies. In most circumstances, an interview is clearly a conversation between two liars. Consider the following scenario: Jimmy Lockwood is the employer, and Sam Underwood is the job seeker.
Let’s see how many lies can you spot.
(Job Seeker) Sam: Greetings, Sir;
Morning, Jimmy (slightly bowing his head with a strained face):
Tell me a little bit about yourself.
‘Sam,’ I am….. (Simply articulating his CV)
‘Jimmy,’ I say (Least bothered about what Sam just said.) What brought you here and how long have you been in the corporate world?
Sam: Sir, it’s been five years. My current job isn’t challenging at all, and I’m looking for a more tough position that will allow me to grow as a person, and this is my ideal job.
Jimmy: (while reading his email and signing a document) Fair Enough! Our company provides opportunities for personal growth and advancement, and our work atmosphere is second to none. Furthermore, our employees are not overworked. Tell me a reason we should not select you.
Sam: Sir, I don’t believe there’s any reason for not selecting me.
Jimmy: That’s all the information we require. If you are chosen, we will contact you as soon as possible.
Sam: Sir, thank you.
Jimmy: (with a slight nod of his head) Okay.
How many lies did you manage to uncover? More than you can count on your fingers, most likely.
The interview is considered to be a conversation between two liars: the candidate, who wants to dazzle with their talents and expertise, and the client, who wants to pitch the benefits of joining their organization.
Really good one