Job Description
A few weeks ago, I spoke with a candidate who was sure her interview went well. “I just decided to be myself,” she said. “I didn’t want to overthink it.”
But a few days later, the rejection email came in: “We’ve decided to move forward with another candidate.”
She couldn’t understand why, she’d been honest, friendly, and confident. The truth? She was herself, but not the version that showed she was ready for the role.
So how did “be yourself” work against her?
Be Yourself, But The Right Way
“Just be yourself.” It’s the kind of advice everyone gives before an interview. It sounds reassuring, but taken at face value, it can easily work against you.
When candidates walk into interviews and “just be themselves,” they often:
1. Speak Too Casually
In trying to sound natural, some people lose professionalism. They use slang, joke too much, or speak with the same tone they’d use in a friendly chat. While being relaxed can help, being too casual can make you seem unprepared or unfocused. Recruiters may interpret it as a lack of seriousness about the opportunity.
2. Overshare Personal Stories
Some candidates believe authenticity means being completely transparent, sharing everything, from personal challenges to unrelated life experiences. While honesty matters, oversharing distracts from your skills and expertise. Remember, an interview isn’t about what you’ve been through, it’s about what you can contribute.
3. Undersell Their Strengths
Many mistake humility for authenticity. They downplay achievements because they fear sounding arrogant. But underselling yourself doesn’t make you relatable, it makes you forgettable. If you don’t clearly communicate your value, the interviewer may never see your true potential.
4. Miss the chance to connect their answers to the company’s needs.
When candidates focus only on expressing themselves, they sometimes forget to tailor their answers. They talk about what they want instead of how they can help the company achieve its goals. This disconnect can make even a qualified candidate seem like a poor fit.
So, what does it actually mean to “be yourself” and succeed in an interview?
It means being authentic with intention, showing up as your genuine self, but with focus, clarity, and purpose.
Here’s what that looks like:
1. Speak naturally, but with purpose
You don’t need to sound stiff or overly rehearsed. Communicate clearly and confidently, but maintain a professional tone. Think of it as friendly professionalism, approachable, yet polished.
2. Share stories that highlight your value
Authenticity shines through when your examples are real and relevant. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers. It keeps your responses concise and ensures every story demonstrates your capability.
3. Own your strengths confidently
Preparation allows you to describe your achievements without hesitation. Replace modest phrases like “I just helped with…” with “I contributed by…” or “I led the effort that…” Confidence backed by facts never sounds boastful.
4. Connect your answers to the company’s goals
Before the interview, research the organization’s values, culture, and objectives. Then align your responses with what they care about most. It shows you’re not just looking for any job, you’re interested in this one, for the right reasons.
5. Let your personality enhance your professionalism
Your personality is an asset when used thoughtfully. Smile, show enthusiasm, and engage with energy, but remember, professionalism anchors everything. The best candidates bring warmth and confidence, without losing focus.
Having sat on the other side of the interview table, I’ve seen firsthand that “be yourself” only works when it’s balanced with professionalism and self-awareness.
You want to show up as the best version of yourself, confident, composed, and ready to perform. Think of it as showing up on your sharpest day: focused, friendly, and capable.
But there’s a difference between presenting your best self and pretending to be someone you’re not.
Hiring managers can tell when someone is trying too hard to fit in or exaggerate their experience.I’ve interviewed candidates who confidently described themselves as highly skilled or detail-oriented, only to discover later that those qualities were overstated. When what’s presented in the interview doesn’t match reality, it rarely ends well, most don’t make it past probation.
That’s why authenticity matters, the right kind of authenticity. It’s not about overselling or downplaying who you are; it’s about showing up as your most capable, genuine, and prepared self. That’s the person who gets hired and stays hired.
Finally
Being yourself doesn’t mean being unfiltered or unprepared. It means being your best professional and intentional in how you communicate.
When you prepare with purpose, you don’t lose your authenticity, you elevate it, and booking an interview coaching session with us could be the key for you to learn how to show up as your best self and get noticed, remembered, and finally get that job.
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