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Could humour be your biggest ally during a job interview?

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Researchers have coined the phrase ‘humorbragging’ to describe the art of talking about your skills and achievements in jest or with wit.

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‘Humorbragging’ allows job applicants to stand out by talking about their achievements without appearing arrogant. (Envato Elements pic)

The virtues of humour are widely recognised, including in the workplace, even if this quality is rarely used in the hiring process. Yet job applicants may do well to show their wit to recruiters.

Researchers from Imperial College London and the US universities of Stanford and Virginia report in a study, recently published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, that working people should indulge in “humorbragging” during job interviews.

This word is a contraction of “humour” – using the American spelling – and “bragging”, and describes the art of talking about your skills and professional achievements in jest or with wit.

According to the authors, humorbragging enables job applicants to stand out by talking about their achievements without appearing arrogant. “This approach allows them to highlight competencies and achievements in a manner that is perceived as more likable and less threatening,” Jieun Pai, an assistant professor at Imperial College Business School, told PsyPost.

The experts came to this conclusion after conducting four experiments, including one in which volunteers were asked to put themselves in the shoes of a restaurant owner looking for a new pastry chef. Participants were then asked to evaluate transcripts of mock job interviews with candidates interested in the position.

One of the questions focused on the moment in their career of which they were most proud. The researchers drafted two possible answers: one very factual, the other incorporating humorbragging.

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Always read the body language of the interviewer as they might not be as receptive to humorbragging as you might like. (Envato Elements pic)

As it turned out, the volunteers were more convinced by the latter. In their paper, the researchers explain that humorbragging increases warmth and perceived competence, “two underlying mechanisms on an employer’s hiring intentions”.

If you’re thinking about trying your hand at humorbragging at your next job interview, bear in mind that this technique can be a double-edged sword, as your interviewer may also see your attempts at banter as unprofessional, which could act against you.

As a general rule, you should refrain from any form of humour that is detrimental to others – so forget racist, misogynist or LGBT-phobic “jokes”. Go for subtle, kind forms of humour that won’t offend anyone.

And above all, be prepared: humour is an art that can be learnt, even if it comes more naturally to some people than others. Don’t hesitate to test the waters with those closest to you: if they don’t smile when they hear your witticisms, it’s unlikely that a recruiter will.

Be careful on the big day, and pay attention to your interviewer’s non-verbal behaviour. If they respond well to your attempts at humorbragging, keep up the good work. If not, it’s best to talk about your skills and professional achievements in a more formal tone.

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