ANN/AFP/THE STAR – It might sound like an April Fool’s gag, but this tip is certainly no joke: research shows that using humour during a job interview could help land you the job of your dreams.
Humour has many well-established virtues, including in the professional world, even if this quality remains largely under-exploited in the hiring process. However, candidates would be well advised to use a touch of humour when facing recruiters.
This is the finding of a study by researchers at Imperial College London, Stanford University and the University of Virginia, published in the journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. They recommend blending self-promotion with humour to “humourbrag” your way to success. This involves the delicate act of highlighting your skills and achievements with a touch of humour.
According to the study authors, this approach allows candidates to stand out without appearing pretentious. “This approach allows individuals to highlight their competencies and achievements in a manner that is perceived as more likable and less threatening,” Jieun Pai, assistant professor at Imperial College London, told PsyPost magazine.
To support their hypothesis, the researchers carried out four experiments, one of which simulated the recruitment of a pastry chef for a fictitious restaurant owner. The volunteers needed to conduct mock interviews with candidates, which included asking them about the moment in their career they were most proud of.
Two types of answers were proposed: one serious, the other using “humourbragging.” The researchers found that it was the second kind of answer that most appealed to the recruiters.
“‘Humourbragging’ boosts both perceived warmth and perceived competence and that perceptions of both warmth and competence mediate the effect of ‘humourbragging’ on employers’ intentions to hire the candidate,” the study states.
But beware: using humour requires nuance and discernment. A joke in bad taste can quickly be perceived as unprofessional. The balance is delicate. In short, avoid jokes that are questionable, offensive or discriminatory. Kind, good-natured humour, subtly delivered, is the best option.
Finally, like any good skill, it can be improved upon. Test your jokes on your friends and family: if they don’t find them funny, your recruiter will probably won’t either. And on the big day, be mindful of the signals from the person you are talking to. If they smile, keep going. Otherwise, revert to a more traditional, formal approach. Because even on April Fool’s Day, it’s wise to avoid turning your interview into a poorly executed comedy sketch that fails to impress the audience.
