Using humor in a job interview

[Anonymous]

As some who has done a lot of hiring, I say no to jokes, including the hot seat one, yawn, at least three other people used that line already that day and I am hot hiring them either. Just no jokes, even the chocolate one, none. In general, people use humor in the workplace to distract from the fact that they are not doing a good job so not I will not hire you if you make a joke in an interview because st a later date you will joke your way through a performance appraisal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As some who has done a lot of hiring, I say no to jokes, including the hot seat one, yawn, at least three other people used that line already that day and I am hot hiring them either. Just no jokes, even the chocolate one, none. In general, people use humor in the workplace to distract from the fact that they are not doing a good job so not I will not hire you if you make a joke in an interview because st a later date you will joke your way through a performance appraisal.

So you would pass on a perfectly otherwise qualified candidate just because they made a joke?

[Anonymous]

In some hiring situations, humor is appropriate. Academic appointments involving teaching demonstrations and research presentations - yes, probably a very good idea. The faculty who attend are trying to decide if you're going to be a good fit for their department culture. Humor helps with that.

Even for non-academic appointments, if your future colleagues will be participating in your interview process, and you know they're evaluating you for your work *and* for your fit in the company culture, then perhaps humor is a good idea. But PPs are right, you need to be careful about reading your audience.

[Anonymous]

how about in the field of Finance?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HR Bitch here: Generally, it's best to stay somewhat conservative. Unless you are sure your humor will go over well, it's not going to be well-received if you make jokes. If the person interviewing you had a poster of the Friends cast on their wall and then you said, "Could I BEEEE any more excited for the opportunity to work here?" that might be well received.

A lot of humor is based on stereotypes though, so be very, very cautious. I would think a candidate was unfocused and didn't take things seriously (in a bad way) if we sat down for our interview and they said, "So a rabbi and a priest walk into a bar" or "Knock knock" or "What did the gopher say to the snake?" or something.

ahah, I wasn't thinking about jokes but more like answering some questions with a bit of humor. Let's say someone asks you what's your greatest weakness and you start off by saying: "chocolate is my greatest weakness, I just can never resist" but then you follow up with a more serious answer lkke "more seriously, my weakness is bla bla boa" that's the type of humor i was referring to

As someone who has done a fair amount of hiring, I would just say no to this.

Ditto. Don't need anymore attention seeking jerks in my office.

[Anonymous]

I always do. If I can't break the ice with the people who are interviewing me, then I probably won't be a good fit in the office. It has worked very well for me; it's also blown up in my face, BUT, in that case, the job wouldn't have been a good fit anyway.

I have no idea what BIG4 is supposed to mean in the OP, however.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As some who has done a lot of hiring, I say no to jokes, including the hot seat one, yawn, at least three other people used that line already that day and I am hot hiring them either. Just no jokes, even the chocolate one, none. In general, people use humor in the workplace to distract from the fact that they are not doing a good job so not I will not hire you if you make a joke in an interview because st a later date you will joke your way through a performance appraisal.

NP here who has also done a lot of hiring. People also use humor to lessen the tension in stressful situations, and I disagree with the bolded part. Perhaps that's the PP's experience, or her workplace culture. It's neither my experience, nor the culture in my workplace.

Don't plan to be funny or try to be funny, as a different PP said, it has to be organic. The fit for the job has to be both ways, so if you're naturally prone to that type of personality, it's probably ok to show it somewhat. Everyone wants to know what they're going to get, and don't everyone is completely dry. But don't force it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always do. If I can't break the ice with the people who are interviewing me, then I probably won't be a good fit in the office. It has worked very well for me; it's also blown up in my face, BUT, in that case, the job wouldn't have been a good fit anyway.

I have no idea what BIG4 is supposed to mean in the OP, however.

Big4 as in Deloitte, KPMG , PWC, Ernst and Young, think Finance and Accounting settings

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As some who has done a lot of hiring, I say no to jokes, including the hot seat one, yawn, at least three other people used that line already that day and I am hot hiring them either. Just no jokes, even the chocolate one, none. In general, people use humor in the workplace to distract from the fact that they are not doing a good job so not I will not hire you if you make a joke in an interview because st a later date you will joke your way through a performance appraisal.

NP here who has also done a lot of hiring. People also use humor to lessen the tension in stressful situations, and I disagree with the bolded part. Perhaps that's the PP's experience, or her workplace culture. It's neither my experience, nor the culture in my workplace.

Don't plan to be funny or try to be funny, as a different PP said, it has to be organic. The fit for the job has to be both ways, so if you're naturally prone to that type of personality, it's probably ok to show it somewhat. Everyone wants to know what they're going to get, and don't everyone is completely dry. But don't force it.

OP Here- The thing is i am naturally funny and have a "silly" personality, so i wouldn't go out of my way to be funny, it is just something that naturally comes to me and yes I do it to ease tension as well not to hide a lack of performance or adequacy for the job...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, what do you have in mind?

Sorry. Somehow I missed your post there. Now that I get what you're talking about, I'd say no. You don't want to seem flippant or seem like you're trivializing the process/questions. Also, there are some odd people out there who have NO sense of humor, and you might turn them off if you start an answer with a joke. But, like anything, you might need to just get a feel for the room and see if a small bit of natural humor is in keeping with the mood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As some who has done a lot of hiring, I say no to jokes, including the hot seat one, yawn, at least three other people used that line already that day and I am hot hiring them either. Just no jokes, even the chocolate one, none. In general, people use humor in the workplace to distract from the fact that they are not doing a good job so not I will not hire you if you make a joke in an interview because st a later date you will joke your way through a performance appraisal.

NP here who has also done a lot of hiring. People also use humor to lessen the tension in stressful situations, and I disagree with the bolded part. Perhaps that's the PP's experience, or her workplace culture. It's neither my experience, nor the culture in my workplace.

Don't plan to be funny or try to be funny, as a different PP said, it has to be organic. The fit for the job has to be both ways, so if you're naturally prone to that type of personality, it's probably ok to show it somewhat. Everyone wants to know what they're going to get, and don't everyone is completely dry. But don't force it.

OP Here- The thing is i am naturally funny and have a "silly" personality, so i wouldn't go out of my way to be funny, it is just something that naturally comes to me and yes I do it to ease tension as well not to hide a lack of performance or adequacy for the job...

I've been working at a big 4 for 13 years. As PPs have mentioned, if a humorous response works naturally into the conversation, then its ok. But i would use it sparingly (twice at most), otherwise I would find it hard to take you as a serious professional. Depending in the type of position you are interviewing for, the interviewer will want to know that you can conduct yourself with our clients in a professional manner. The fact that you used the word "silly" to describe yourself gives me pause. My firm is pretty conservative and I don't think I know of any silly people. It's just not that type of place. We have some funny/sarcastic people, but I can't think of any silly ones. Good luck with your interview.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As some who has done a lot of hiring, I say no to jokes, including the hot seat one, yawn, at least three other people used that line already that day and I am hot hiring them either. Just no jokes, even the chocolate one, none. In general, people use humor in the workplace to distract from the fact that they are not doing a good job so not I will not hire you if you make a joke in an interview because st a later date you will joke your way through a performance appraisal.

NP here who has also done a lot of hiring. People also use humor to lessen the tension in stressful situations, and I disagree with the bolded part. Perhaps that's the PP's experience, or her workplace culture. It's neither my experience, nor the culture in my workplace.

Don't plan to be funny or try to be funny, as a different PP said, it has to be organic. The fit for the job has to be both ways, so if you're naturally prone to that type of personality, it's probably ok to show it somewhat. Everyone wants to know what they're going to get, and don't everyone is completely dry. But don't force it.

OP Here- The thing is i am naturally funny and have a "silly" personality, so i wouldn't go out of my way to be funny, it is just something that naturally comes to me and yes I do it to ease tension as well not to hide a lack of performance or adequacy for the job...

I've been working at a big 4 for 13 years. As PPs have mentioned, if a humorous response works naturally into the conversation, then its ok. But i would use it sparingly (twice at most), otherwise I would find it hard to take you as a serious professional. Depending in the type of position you are interviewing for, the interviewer will want to know that you can conduct yourself with our clients in a professional manner. The fact that you used the word "silly" to describe yourself gives me pause. My firm is pretty conservative and I don't think I know of any silly people. It's just not that type of place. We have some funny/sarcastic people, but I can't think of any silly ones. Good luck with your interview.

OP Here- Yes, i have a silly personality but I am not so silly that I can't differenciate between a professional situation and a not so professional one. I carry myself in a professional fashion and has been working in the field of finance for a lot of years with a lot of serious people and serious situations. Somehow, I always make the best out of every situation and can make people laugh by adding humor to stressful situations. Never tried it at an interview before, but in my professional life, my coworkers would not describe me as silly, probably as funny and someone who doesn't take herself too seriously and can relate to everyone and every situation. I just try to see the silver lining in everything and make people smile. Thanks all for the advice, I will be on my best behavior at the interview and will use humor prudently if the situation arises

[Anonymous]

I've been the kind of person who makes others laugh all the time. My last important interview was for a MBA program. The admissions person was cracking up the entire time and mentioned several times her belly was hurting she was laughing so hard. I was accepted. But it was all natural, the way the interview flowed. I never force anything. If the conversation flows in that direction I usually don't avoid cracking jokes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've been the kind of person who makes others laugh all the time. My last important interview was for a MBA program. The admissions person was cracking up the entire time and mentioned several times her belly was hurting she was laughing so hard. I was accepted. But it was all natural, the way the interview flowed. I never force anything. If the conversation flows in that direction I usually don't avoid cracking jokes.

Which MBA program?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been the kind of person who makes others laugh all the time. My last important interview was for a MBA program. The admissions person was cracking up the entire time and mentioned several times her belly was hurting she was laughing so hard. I was accepted. But it was all natural, the way the interview flowed. I never force anything. If the conversation flows in that direction I usually don't avoid cracking jokes.

Which MBA program?

UC - Booth