The Unexpected Wisdom of Being Honest in a Job Interview

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I agree that honesty really is the best policy when it comes to interviewing for a job. That being said, with jobs in my field quite scarce where I live (can't move until next year), each one is a unique opportunity to break into the profession. The downside of this is that I may never find a professional job in my field. Being absolutely and completely honest with an employer certainly makes things happier if you are the one chosen, but for those of us that continue to get passed up because of honesty might not necessarily be "dodging the bullet" as Alison Green would say. Honesty in this case is keeping me from getting the job I am seeking.

Marzec of IN 9:54PM September 01, 2009

Over the years I've had to temper my responses between what I wanted and what the employer might want to hear - - sometimes it's been good to express interest in a challenge tho in context of the job. I've had interviewers that took a job just before my scheduled time and that wasn't very honest either! Being too honest also has it's drawbacks due to one going on and on about subjects and not realizing it as well. What's been the most frustrating has been non-technical types that interview us engineer types and haven't a clue what we're talking about and we don't strive to wow 'em in the intangible world, we strive to create and improve tangibles.

Rick Libertarianski of WI 9:01PM June 23, 2009

In my first ever interview with Times of India, I had answered most general knowledge questions. When the CEO of the company, surprising at my GK asked me from which University I have got Master's degree. I told him TOI. He again asked me which. I answered Times of India. I have been reading your esteemed newspaper since my childhood. It is my dream career.
I was selected.

Prakash of IN 12:56PM May 21, 2009