Job interviews are among the most stressful experiences a person can have. Whether it is your first time or a repeat, you must be careful with how you speak, look, and act throughout the interview. Speaking, in particular, can be tricky for some people because they may think it best to lie rather than tell the truth if it will help them get the job.

However, if you genuinely want to secure the job, you may want to consider being honest throughout the interview. Here’s why you should be honest and why not doing it could cost you that job:

There Is A Consequence To Every Lie

When you tell a lie, no matter how big or small, there will be consequences that you may not be able to recover from when employers recall your answers. Since it is a lie, you don’t have any experience that will support your answer, and you may end up lying some more to save face.

As you lie, you are causing the company to have false expectations of you, and if you cannot deliver, your lie will be found out, and it may cost you your job. Some companies do not tolerate lies to the point that they blacklist employees and share their information if they are caught lying.

You Can Actually Can Be In Between Without Lying

When interviewing, you must show authenticity to get a position. However, you must ensure you aren’t oversharing, and that your profile is still accurate.

Before you answer a question, be brief and avoid adding additional information that may only confuse. People will see this as a sign of emotional intelligence, fairness, and awareness of one’s strengths and weaknesses.

Lying Can Affect Your Credibility

If caught lying, people immediately think you are untrustworthy, especially regarding essential projects and discussions. Being honest can help people feel that you are trustworthy and have good judgment.

However, answer tactfully when speaking about your skills and provide examples to give people context, which may also affect your credibility. It would be best if you also made it a point to answer with information relevant to the job, as this will show you exactly what position you are applying for and have the expertise to back it up. If you are asked about your personal life, it is ok to omit a few details and keep it brief since it is unrelated to work.

Whether it is your first or second job, lying does not guarantee that you will secure the job. If you do get the job, sooner or later, people will discover that you lied during the interview. By staying honest but knowing the limits of how much honesty you can give, you can appear authentic to your potential employer.

I have more advices on interviews and here they are…
Do Appearance and Attitude Matter in An Interview?
How to Emphasise Your Personal Strengths During an Interview
8 Types of Interview You Will Come Across In Your Lifetime

Can’t get enough of MiddleMe? You can find me sharing my thoughts here as well: 
Instagram @kallymiddleme
Twitter  (MiddleMe_net)
FaceBook (MiddleMe.net)
LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/kallytay