47. Authenticity vs Adaptability With the UX +1 Podcast Crew

What if we can’t afford to be our authentic selves during a job interview?

Corey Nelson’s recent LinkedIn post got me thinking.

What if the advice I’ve been giving to be your authentic self isn’t a universal truth? What if there is a time and a place to be your authentic self? What if you can’t afford to be your authentic self? What if you really need a job?

The more I thought about this the more I realized Corey was probably right.

Don’t get me wrong, I still believe very strongly in being your authentic self. But there is a tradeoff and a compromise we might have to make. We should be weighing the costs and benefits of being our authentic selves if that means we may not get the job.

Obviously, there are upsides: We might find our perfect-fit dream job.

But the cost is that it may take us longer to find that dream job.

When we approach a job interview, we should be asking ourselves what our tolerance for not getting this particular job actually is.

Topics:
• 05:29 – Should we be authentic in interviews?
• 09:59 – Perhaps there’s a bit of code-switching
• 11:21 – How authentic can you afford to be when you’re trying to break into the field?
• 14:39 – Understand the context going into the interview
• 20:16 – There’s a tolerance for how much authenticity you’re willing to share
• 21:37 – For remote interviews, your camera setup matters
• 25:30 – Present yourself in a remote interview like you would in an in-person interview
• 35:43 – If you find your why, you won’t need to act
• 37:22 – Where is your passion
• 39:57 – Is there such a thing as an entry-level UX role?

Helpful Links:
• Corey’s infamous LinkedIn post
• Subscribe to The UX+1 Podcast
• Connect with Antonio on LinkedIn
• Connect with Christel on LinkedIn
• Connect with Corey on LinkedIn

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—

Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today’s episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today’s episode, why don’t you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.

If you haven’t already, sign up for our email list. We won’t spam you. Pinky swear.

• Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show
• Support the show on Patreon
• Check out show transcripts
• Check out our website
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Subscribe on Spotify
• Subscribe on YouTube
• Subscribe on Stitcher