Comments on: Punk Rock HR Interview Tip: Don’t Try to Be Funny

By: Roberta Hill

Roberta Hill — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 11:49:25 +0000

Not only is should we be aware of the distinction between humour and jokes but the distinction between a “light” and heavy organizational culture. If you can enjoy the interview and have a little fun it may tell you a lot about the organization or at least the people in the hiring process. Sometimes how I respond gives me valuable information about it I want the contract (I am self employed) or not. I have a very “British” type of wit so I am careful when and how I deploy it.

By: dawn hrdlica @dawnHRrocks

dawn hrdlica @dawnHRrocks — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:25:32 +0000

What’s even worse–when a hiring manager tries to make a joke to the candidate and it bombs. We may lose the candidate but I guess the upside is we do get to razz the manager for the rest of their working days. Hmmm on second thought….that may not be so bad.

By: scottthekyhrguy

scottthekyhrguy — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 23:12:30 +0000

If you have to TRY, it’s probably not funny. And if it is, it’s unlikely spontaneous. And contrived humor in an interview is as awkward and easy to spot as, well….

http://www.webwombat.com.au/entertainment/movies/images/bringdownhouse.JPG

By: Pharma Giles

Pharma Giles — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 20:05:10 +0000

Many, many years ago, I was told to relax by an interviewer. So I leant back in my chair, put my hands behind my head and my feet up on his desk. The two guys interviewing me looked at me for a couple of seconds and then burst out laughing.

I got the job, stayed with the company for 13 years, and only left when it got taken over by humourless robots from Planet G. I see my old boss from time to time and he still says it was my blatant chutzspah that got me the nod on the day. That and being a technical whiz as well, of course (not).

Don’t think it would work these days, somehow. Modern HR would NEVER allow the employment of anyone who looked like they might have a sense of humour…

By: Sabrina

Sabrina — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:12:21 +0000

I kill in interviews. Have them rolling in the aisles. I don’t mean to, I try not to, it just happens. I can’t stop being funny. *shrug* And no, it doesn’t work. Almost a year unemployed. I wish I could stop.

By: Kat Cole

Kat Cole — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:38:51 +0000

Love this post – totally agree with the difference between wit and humor and how they can impact an interview very differently from one another. Rock on!

By: MattyMat

MattyMat — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:56:20 +0000

@Laurie Dude– Hr people are THE most hardcore, un-funny people in interviews! I think HR thinks it’s their job to make people nervous to see if and when they fuck up— and I’m telling you this from experience. Oh— the notepad!! THE DREADED NOTEPAD!!!!

Hiring managers are half and half— business owners will get the bad jokes rollin’–and are usually more easy going— but if you don’t laugh??— you ain’t gettin’ the job, son!

By: Laurie

Laurie — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:42:16 +0000

@MattyMat Maybe the lesson is don’t joke around with HR because we have no sense of humor??

@Alex OMG, the Michael Scott approach is a big fail.

@Marsha You’re right. Wit and humor are different. That’s a good way of writing that. Shoot, wish I said it like that. So good!

@Jason Who told you that joke? Elle?

@Rick Most people laugh at their own jokes — including me — and it’s totally awkward for everyone else.

@Renee Weird — but good example and proves that I’m not always right. I totally didn’t get that joke, though.

@HR Hooligan Hilarious. Also, agreed. When you speak with people you know in a formal way, it can be weird.

By: HR-Hooligan

HR-Hooligan — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:55:20 +0000

Wow what about the interviewers making jokes? I did that once, and luckily, it went over well but it was just one of those things that slips off the tongue without any control. It was an internal candidate so we all knew each other. The interview committee consisted of my boss, my previous team manager and me. The person who was being interviewed apologized for not being able to look anyone in the eye because she stated that her eyes watered when she looked people in the eye and she didn’t want us to think she was crying. I looked at her and said “Are you an alien? Of course, as soon as I said that, I wished I hadn’t. Luckily, everyone burst out laughing but then I quickly added that I didn’t mean an illegal alien (which really would have got me in trouble) but the outer space kind. Then, still not knowing when to shut up, I told them all about the instances that make my eyes water. Surprisingly, everyone seemed much more at ease after my little outburst of nerdy goofiness. Heck, I always find internal interviews tougher then the kind when you don’t know anyone.

By: Renee

Renee — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:46:10 +0000

I was in an interview once for an event organizer position, but the event was an “alternative” kind of thing. When I got there, there were like seven interviewers on the panel instead of the three they’d originally said there would be. One of them said “I hope the larger panel isn’t making you nervous…” and I said “THERE ARE FOUR LIGHTS!”* and the entire room cracked up. I got the job. Thank god they were all nerds.

A year later I ran into one of the guys who sat on that panel, and he said that he used the same joke in HIS interview, and got the job on the spot. Again, though, I suspect a careful assessment of the nerdiness of the crowd was KEY.

* Star Trek: Next Generation joke. This was awhile ago.