Showing Your Convictions And Activism In An Interview, And Why Not?

Show a part of your personality

Some people will do anything to succeed. And there was me who, for a long time, almost apologized for taking up the recruiter’s time during the interview. Except I realized that this wasn’t working in my favor, quite the contrary. It’s important to convey a strong image of yourself through this exchange because it gives a signal to the employer: this person knows what they’re doing and what they want. So, asserting your convictions isn’t a bad thing, as it allows you to give a part of your personality in an interview. For us, we check that the values publicly defended by the company are truly embodied by them 😬.

🏳️‍🌈 Take the example of a transgender or non-binary person. During an interview, they’re entitled to ask questions about gender. Would the recruiter be embarrassed by a dress being worn if the male gender is assigned to the candidate? I’m not saying it’s easy to ask these kinds of questions, but it’s a good way to know whether we’ll be in a “safe” space to be ourselves. For the recruiter, it shows that there is an assertive personality, and it depicts a full presentation of you during the interview. 👋 Can you really be yourself at work? If so, how?

Don’t force yourself to be someone else

If there’s one thing I can’t do, whether it’s in my personal or professional life, it’s forcing myself to be someone else. And that’s good, because if the recruiter wants to meet us, then it’s for who we are! I’m not saying that we need to reveal all of our principles during a “me, me, me…” conversation! No, it has to be an exchange. We do it in doses by asking questions, by showing interest, for example, in the company’s commitments.

It’s a way of being yourself, all the while respecting the distance with the recruiter and not crossing a line by being “too personal”. Doing so shows who you are and how you work. It also allows you to lay the groundwork from the outset so that we don’t get put in a role. Because there’s nothing worse than adopting a second personality, “a work one”, especially if it doesn’t suit you 🤕.

👉 Be careful, I’m not saying that we shouldn’t invent another personality at work! There are people who are very comfortable with this. The important thing is to be in tune with yourself, no matter what you decide to do.

>>> Discover; How to introduce yourself at work

Be aligned with your values

I think that an environmentalist could never work in an oil company or a fast fashion company. A vegetarian couldn’t work in the meat industry or in a slaughterhouse, either. Why? Because it would go against their values, and it would create a cognitive dissonance that could cause psychological suffering. Being aware of this in time allows companies to sort the wheat from the chaff already during the interview phase 😮.

It’s already not easy to experience this in your personal life, so I can’t imagine the pain it could cause being faced with it every day at your workplace. While these examples may seem obvious, not everything is as clear-cut. That’s why a job interview is a crucial time to see if you feel like you belong in the company. It’s therefore good to sound out CSR commitments, to gauge the quality of life in the company, the pace of work, etc. Beyond values, we also need to pay attention to non-verbal language, the way the recruiter responds, and in general, the impression we get from this interview.

>>> Learn how to be proactive at work

Stand out from the other candidates

Finally, you mustn’t forget the strategic aspect of asserting your activism during an interview! You can therefore put forward your commitments when answering the employer’s question: why you and not someone else? The company may also have strong commitments, for example, if it’s a press group. This will only confirm that you’re the right person and that you’re differentiating yourself from the other candidates who don’t put their convictions forward 👀.

Of course, it can be a double-edged sword to dare to show your commitment like this. You may not be selected for a position that you were interested in… But you can also avoid putting yourself in a delicate situation that will generate uneasiness at work because you don’t feel in harmony with what you experience on a daily basis. Already during the research phase, it’s good to apply to companies that talk to you, it’s the best way to stand out with your commitments and that it “hits the mark” compared to other candidates. So, be daring, affirm yourself with your convictions, and don’t be afraid to succeed ✊!

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