Authenticity vs. Impression: Navigating Interviews the Honest Way

We’ve all been there: preparing for an interview, trying to present ourselves as the best version of who we are, and hoping that we leave a lasting impression. But what happens when the pressure to make a good impression conflicts with our commitment to authenticity?

I’ve always thought I had good communication skills.
I can hold a conversation.
I can confidently talk about myself and present myself as a professional.

So, naturally, I believed I would do well in interviews. In fact, after my most recent interview, I walked out feeling confident. I thought I had nailed it. But as time passed, I started to reflect on what happened — and what I noticed made me question my approach.

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The Struggle with What They Want to Hear

I’ve come to realize that interviews are often more about what the interviewer wants to hear than about who I truly am. It’s almost as if there’s a script we’re all expected to follow. The words they expect, the answers they want, and the experience they’re hoping to hear about.

I always find myself sensing what they want to hear. I know the right buzzwords to say, the qualifications to highlight, and the phrases that would make me sound like the perfect fit for the role. But here's the thing: I can’t bring myself to say them if they aren’t true.

Authenticity Over Exaggeration

Here’s where my personal philosophy comes in: authenticity. I’m not the type of person who can exaggerate or pretend I know something when I don’t. If I’ve only taken a course but never actually applied the skills in a real-world setting, I’ll say that. If I don’t know something, I won’t pretend to know it, hoping that I can figure it out later.

And yet, the advice I often hear from career coaches and industry experts is quite the opposite:

“Say you know it — you’ll figure it out later.”
“Say you’ve worked with it — even if you’ve only seen someone else do it once.”

But for me, that’s not how I operate. I don’t feel comfortable stretching the truth, even if I think it will get me the job. Maybe I’m just not cut out for playing that game. I know who I am, what I’ve accomplished, and where I still have room to grow. And I’m okay with that.

The Cost of Honesty

Does my commitment to honesty cost me in the professional world? Perhaps.
Does it make me stand out less in interviews? Maybe.
But, honestly, I’d rather stay true to myself. Because, at the end of the day, I want to work for a company that values my true skill set — not a fabricated version of myself.

I’d rather be hired for what I genuinely bring to the table. I’d rather acknowledge my gaps in knowledge and work on them than fake expertise just to secure a job. This approach may not get me hired as quickly as it would if I played up every skill I might one day acquire, but it ensures that I’m starting from an honest place.

Striking the Right Balance

We all know that job hunting and interviews are about making an impression. But how do you balance the need to impress with the desire to stay authentic? How do you show confidence in your abilities without pretending to be something you’re not?

Here’s what I’ve learned through my own experience:

1. Know Your Strengths
   Be confident in what you do know. The interview is your time to shine in the areas where you are confident and have actual experience. If you’re not great at something, don’t shy away from it — but focus on what you excel at. Show your strengths.

2. Acknowledge What You Don’t Know
   It’s okay to admit that you don’t know something. This can actually work to your advantage, as it demonstrates a level of humility and honesty. Employers appreciate candidates who are aware of their limitations and eager to learn.

3. Emphasize Your Willingness to Learn
   If you don’t have the experience they’re looking for, don’t lie about it. Instead, highlight your ability and eagerness to learn. Talk about how you’ve overcome challenges in the past, and how you plan to tackle new challenges. Employers love a growth mindset.

4. Be Yourself
   You don’t need to be anyone else in an interview. Trying to mold yourself into the perfect candidate by saying what you think they want to hear can be draining, and it’s not sustainable in the long run. Authenticity leads to better long-term fit.

5. Prepare with Integrity
   I don’t believe in overselling or pretending to be something you’re not. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t prepare. Know your resume inside and out, and be ready to explain your past experiences honestly and confidently. Practice your responses, but stay true to your experiences.

At the end of the day, job interviews are about finding the right match — for both you and the employer. I believe that staying authentic is key to finding a role where you can truly thrive. Sure, it might take longer, and yes, it might feel like you’re not always getting the attention you deserve in a competitive job market. But I would rather wait for the right opportunity than compromise who I am just to fit into someone else’s mold.