Now, don't get me wrong: it's not OK to lie in an interview
When I suggested last week that lying was acceptable in job interviews, I think my advice may have been misconstrued. Judging by the bulk of the e-mails I received, there is a large population of job applicants out there who are looking for an excuse to make things up and who were buoyed by my condoning of the practice.
So let me say a few things by way of clarification. When asked brainless, inappropriate or just plain rude questions, lying is not only acceptable but should be encouraged.
So when asked, 'How much do you weigh?', 'Do you plan on having children?' or 'Do you have any webbed toes?' you are entitled to make up whatever you like. Daft questions do not deserve sensible answers.
Intelligent questions, however, like, 'Do you know how to drive a fire engine?' require a truthful answer. This example is, of course, only sensible in the circumstance of a job interview for a fireman. If you are interviewing for the position of bank teller, this would again fall into the category of silly questions.
Of course, even though a truthful answer is necessary to the question, 'Do you know how to drive a fire engine?', even this simple answer requires the important job-interview finesse.
There is an unspoken covenant between interviewer and interviewee that governs the interview process. And that unspoken agreement is that exaggeration, embellishment and cherry-picking are expected.