How to use humour in your job interview

Here are some tips on how to use humour as a skill at your next job interview:

Know your audience

Check the mood of the interview before you make any jokes. If it feels more like a serious, formal setting than a more casual, relaxed interview you’ll need to make sure your humour fits the vibe. Industry and company culture will be good indicators too ad some workplaces are more open to humour than others.

Use self-deprecating humour

This basically means make some light-hearted jokes about yourself. An example could be, “I’ll give anything a go, I tried roller skating once but that didn’t end well. “This works in an interview setting because it’s a great way to show that you have a can-do attitude and you have good perspective on failure, which could make you an approachable person and a valuable addition to a team.

Tell the stories around your experiences

Use humour in your next job interview as a way to show your experience and problem-solving skills. You could do this by sharing a story that showcases your ability to handle a challenging situation with humour, resilience and creativity.

Avoid controversial topics

Always stay away from making jokes about controversial or potentially offensive topics. Stick to fun and relatable topics and avoid jokes about current news, politics, religion, race, sexuality, and other important issues.

Stay professional

While humour can be a helpful skill in your interview, remember that you’re still in a professional setting and don’t overdo it. Also, keep the balance right so the number of jokes doesn’t get in the way of the interviewer learning about you and your qualifications.

Prepare in advance

It’s a good idea to prepare your stories and any fun jokes you might make before you get into the interview. This way, you won’t feel pressured to come up with something on the spot, and your humour can be well-timed.

Respond to the interviewer’s cues

If your interviewer uses humour first by making a joke or light-hearted comment, it’s okay to reply with a laugh and a fun response. This can actually help you connect with them so they remember you better after the interview.

Check for reactions

Check the interviewer’s response after humorous moments or when you finish sharing a fun story. If they seem uncomfortable or confused just go back to standard, more serious conversations about the role you’re interviewing for.

Practice with someone

If you’re need more confidence practise answering interview questions with someone you trust and they can give you tips on what to say and when.

Just remember to be friendly, professional and to do good preparation for the interview so you can do your best while you’re in there.

Good luck.

Register here to find out more about how we can provide dedicated job search support and jobseeker programs to help you reach your employment goals.