6 Topics Your Candidates Shouldnt Joke About in Interviews

6 Topics Your Candidates Shouldnt Joke About in Interviews Everyone likes a good joke, especially with  the silly season rolling around. Having a sense of humour is a really important personal attribute that helps people connect with one another and alleviate  tense situations.  Being able to find the funny side to awkward situations  is a great skill to have, and laughing at yourself shows you have humility it makes you more relatable. As with most things, jokes are all about time and place. I mean, Im no comedic genius, but there are definitely some  moments in life when even the biggest jokers really have to reign themselves  in. Theres nothing more awkward than witnessing a train crash of a conversation happen due to one person putting their foot in it by trying to be hilarious at the wrong time. Prime example of a situation like this? Interviews. There are a certain set of unwritten rules that govern ones demeanour in a job interview. They can be super intense, and for candidates, extremely nerve-wracking. And why wouldnt they be? Its literally a restricted pocket of time theyve been given to prove themselves in order to attain their dream role. While its a great idea to encourage your candidate to find some common ground with their interviewer, to build a a memorable rapport. However, jokes should be treated with caution. Why?! In job interviews, you never know who your candidate will be meeting with,  how relaxed they are and how they view certain topics. Candidates should always be encouraged to be themselves and let their personality shine through, however if theres ever a time to advise them against making daring / risk wise cracks, the interview is one of them. Its not about getting them to come across as a prude, or making them conform to a boring sense of normality, rather its about saving them from being perceived as offensive and unprofessional. People say stupid things when theyre under pressure, so advise your candidate accordingly! Here are the topics Id discourage joking about, even if they judge their interviewer to be a bit of a larrikin or a joker! 1. Drinking *Interview commences. Slightly awkward silence.* Interviewer: Hi Paul, how are you today? Candidate: Im so hungover, big night last night! Just kidding, fine thanks. *Even more awkward silence, worse than before.* This scenario is so easy to avoid. You might think who would be so stupid so as to open their interview like this? but youd be surprised at what nervous candidates can pull out of the bag when they are put on the spot. A candidate one of my ex colleagues represented once went to an interview absolutely stinking of alcohol, to the point where the interview was cut short and the hiring manager called to give the feedback, outlining how poor it was. Outrageous, I know.  Drinking is a common way for adults to celebrate and socialise, however no hiring manager wants to hire someone who will turn up to work hungover regularly. Your candidate should avoid even putting  such thoughts in the interviewers mind joeks about drinking have no place in an interview. 2. Money Salaries are totally important when it comes to job-seeking, everyone knows that. People have to feed families, put food on the table,  etc. When the interviewer asks your candidate about salary expectations and current situation, your candidate should not make any jokes. Saying things like, how much is on the table? to the, how much are you looking for question is just so obnoxious. Prepare your candidate with a succinct message about monetary expectations, and dont let your candidate crumble under the awkwardness of the money talks and say something that will make them look like a money-hungry fool, or someone who is completely unable to negotiate. 3. Gender, race age A guy I used to work with in my old recruitment agency was representing a candidate interviewing at a global, tier 1 investment bank a couple of years back. Said candidate had the most incredible CV and was a real people-person; he was a shoe-in for the role on every front. Unfortunately, in his final interview, he made a joke to the male interviewer about how he was pleased to hear this role reported directly into a male, as he wasnt a fan of being managed by females, as they tend to be quite bossy. Can you believe it? The candidate maintained he was joking, but he  didnt get the job. The hiring manager actually reported it back to my colleague, saying it was not funny and showed an inability to judge whats appropriate and whats not.  Another recruiter friend always tells the tale of the candidate who told his interviewer, based on what I can see, the standard of women is better here than at my current place. No comment required. Let this be a warning to leave gender, race and age out of the banter bank even if it is supposed to be a joke. 4. Politics religion People have different views on serious topics and are brought up with varying sets of beliefs and customs. Interviews are no place to make jokes about racial or political matters, even if there are things being broadcast that day in the news, condemning a particular person or group of people. Your candidates are entitled to their own opinions, but bringing them up in an interview just opens the door to being accidentally offensive or insensitive. The focus in the interview should always be on your skill set and abilities. 5. Reasons for leaving I  received a job application recently from a candidate who used their cover letter to slag off their current job, manager and team members. While  its natural for people to want to move on from their jobs from time to time due to internal frustrations, talking bitterly about a current position has no place in the application / interviewing process for a new role. It is important your candidates are candid about their career motivations and decisions,  but they should refrain from making jokes like, my colleagues are pretty annoying, lets be honest!, my boss is a drongo! or the salarys abysmal. As with most jokes, there is always an element of truth and the hiring manager will likely feel awkward about how to respond to comments like this. The reasons they want to leave their current job are important pieces of information for any hiring manager to know and theyll take what you say seriously, so dont let your candidate make it uncomfortable. 6. Cheating, lying or stealing The interview is a chance for your candidate to paint the best possible picture of themselves. Making jokes about morally wrong occurrences is just totally inappropriate. I heard a story once about a candidate who made sarcastic remarks about lying in the workplace, and it just came across like they were really shifty and not to be trusted an immediate put-off to hiring managers. Dont let  your candidate  have themselves discounted from a process because of silly jokes that dont need to have been made. I standby y comment about everyone loving a good joke I like to consider myself a massive joker too, but over the past few years Ive really learned the importance of picking your audience and time wisely. No one appreciates  the  fool who makes totally inappropriate  wise cracks in an attempt to build rapport, trust me!