Jennifer Newman: Be your authentic self, even in that big job interview

It might sound radical, but new research in the Journal of Applied Psychology indicates being yourself in a job interview is a good idea.

This counter-intuitive piece of advice may come as a surprise. People are used to spending so much time trying to look like the perfect candidate, they forget they have something to offer that's their own.

It turns out it can make a difference. Authentic job applicants are more likely to get hired and The Early Edition's workplace psychologist Jennifer Newman sat down with Stephen Quinn to explain.

Stephen Quinn: Tell me, why would you be anything but authentic in a job interview?

Jennifer Newman: Being authentic refers to when a job applicant acts in accordance with their true self. They express themselves in ways consistent with their inner thoughts and feelings.

The purpose is, in psychology terms, to self-verify, which means presenting yourself accurately.

The goal is to get others to understand you, in the same way you understand yourself, and of course that actually feels really good — people want others to understand them.

It leads to better wellbeing, less anxiety and better relationships — and in a job interview the studies show that it actually can give you an edge.

Isn't there a Seinfeld episode where George Costanza is being interviewed for a job with the New York Yankees and he basically reams out the boss, George Steinbrenner, and then is hired immediately because he was authentic?

Yes, and in The Devil Wears Prada, there's that example of Andy being straight up and getting the work.

Does that work in real life?

That's what our science and research is showing, yes.

Job interviews can put applicants between a rock and a hard place because they feel compelled to put their best foot forward and end up exaggerating their experience to do that.

Your skills and your accomplishments are kind of buffed up, or maybe you're even leaving things out. In that sense they conceal previous problems they've had with employers or hide negative traits.

Being inauthentic can be common in job interviews, which means being authentic makes you stand out.

And being authentic can help you avoid getting jobs you would have disliked. Employers exaggerate how great jobs are. They may omit information about their company, especially things they don't want applicants to know. 

If an employer is misrepresenting a job or the organization, being authentic might help ferret that out.

For example, if there's a high turnover problem at the company and you reveal you work well on intact teams ... you've likely dodged a job you wouldn't want in the first place.

What else do authentic applicants do that's different from somebody who might be considered inauthentic?

They develop a genuine emotional connection with the interviewer. There's warmth and a sense of competence in the interaction.

They reveal things about themselves in an honest way by being direct and answering questions completely.

They don't omit things, conceal relevant experiences or falsify their history. They show they are self-reflective and· they describe what they think when answering questions.

But, isn't there a problem with being authentic — you may not end up with a job?

That's true. The best time to be authentic in a job interview is if you're a top contender.  If it's down to you and a few others, being authentic could get you the job.

Everyone else is trying to mimic what they think is the ideal candidate. Being authentic makes you stand out. Everyone is pretty much equal when it comes to the objective requirements of the job; they all have the necessary technical skills, education or experience to be contenders.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length. Listen to the entire conversation below.