Should You Joke in a Job Interview?

A good sense of humor is a highly sought after attribute in many areas outside of the workplace, but how does it fit into the hiring process?

If you consider yourself to be funny, good at making people laugh, it’s understandable that you’d want to show off this skill when sitting down for an interview. Humor is a proven method of bringing people together, and research also shows that those who are perceived as humorous are seen as more confident and competent than people who aren’t comfortable cracking jokes.

This finding isn’t anything to laugh at either—see what I did there? — considering that 39% of recruiters are left with a negative impression due to an applicant’s ‘lack of confidence’ or ‘shyness’ during an interview.

That said, not all types of humor are appropriate for the workplace, and accidentally delivering a joke that the hiring manager finds offensive could very well be the reason you don’t receive a job offer. According to research from the Academy of Management, there are four types of workplace humor – two of which are positive, and two are negative.

1. Affiliative humor: jokes/anecdotes that are relatable, lighthearted and bring people together
2. Self-enhancing humor: jokes that demonstrate the ability to laugh at yourself, but not in an inherently negative way
3. Aggressive humor: insults, put-downs, offensive jokes, humiliation
4. Self-defeating humor: negative self talk disguised as a joke

It should be fairly obvious which of these are appropriate for the workplace and which aren't, but what might be more difficult is determining how your personal use of humor fits into these categories. That’s why we’ve broken it down even further.

Humor You Can Engage With

Non-Offensive Jokes About the Industry

Includes ironic jokes, (like if the Wi-Fi goes out at an interview you’re doing for an internet provider, there’s a joke in there for sure) or lighthearted comments about the industry more broadly.

Humorous/Relatable Anecdotes

Did something funny happen to you on the way to the interview? Did your kid say something silly to you over breakfast that morning? As long as your anecdotes aren’t offensive or politically charged in any way, they can be great ice breakers.

Sarcasm (But Only Sparingly)

Sarcasm is a type of humor that not everyone has mastered, and it can quickly become negative if you’re not careful. However, sarcasm is oftentimes a very relatable way of joking around. A good example of SFW sarcasm would be if the interviewer makes a comment about it being hot outside, you could say something like, “Oh yeah, that’s why I’m sweating. It has nothing to do with the interview.”

Humor You Cannot Engage With

Offensive jokes of any kind

Whether it’s jokes surrounding politics, religion, race, gender, money, etc. anything that could be constituted as offensive or rude should be avoided at all costs. This isn’t just a rule for the interview, but for the workplace in general. These types of ‘jokes’ are forms of aggression and can/will make your coworkers uncomfortable or targeted.

Jokes that are far too personal

Above, we outlined the use of anecdotes as a type of humor, but you need to be careful not to joke about anything too personal. Do not make any comments about things like mental health, divorce, financial hardship, etc. — not even if it’s just at your own expense.

Jokes about the company/co-workers

Last but not least, you should never joke about the company or your future co-workers during an interview. You have not been officially invited to join the team, and therefore even a little innocent ribbing could be seen as rude.

*As a general rule, if you’re unsure of how your joke might be received, don’t say it.

Other Interview Tips…

When it comes to navigating an interview, there are a few other things you should keep in mind. For instance, 92% of companies report using social media to do research on their candidates before an interview. This means that if you’ve been engaging with some of the more inappropriate types of humor online, that could also affect your chances of getting hired.

Additionally, it’s important to remember that the interview is also your chance to get a feel for the job and overall company culture. If the person interviewing you cracks jokes that you’re personally not comfortable with, that’s a red flag that should not be overlooked, and yet another example of your time being wasted throughout the hiring process.

But hey, there’s good news! CyberCoders can help you jump over all these hurdles and more! Our True Match technology enables recruiters to help you find the perfect fit in a fraction of the time. To learn more and start your curated job search today, check out our website!