How To Express Disagreement In A Job Interview?
It seems that to get a job we must seem willing to accept anything and agree to everything the interviewer tells us, but that is not true. Knowing how to defend our opinions with arguments and respect is also very important both to make a good impression (if we do it correctly) and to not accept something that will later make us unhappy.
Good companies want proactive people
It is normal that we want to please the interviewer to select us, but that does not mean that we do not think about anything or that we cannot show our disagreement. If we apply for a position in which we have experience or knowledge, the logical thing is that we give our opinion to show that we can contribute more than submissive servility.
If we are delighted with anything they tell us, the hiring manager may think that we have no judgment of our own or that we are trying to please too much and that is not as attractive as it may seem.
For a company that is looking for qualified personnel it is important that candidates can bring new knowledge or different ways of proceeding. This enriches productivity much more than yes to everything, because it can provide creative solutions and update business processes. It is what is known as lateral thinking and having it or cultivating it will bring us great benefits when it comes to doing a job interview and, finally, working in the company that we like the most.
The left hand
As we said, it is possible to express disagreement with the interviewer, but never in bad manners or pretending to be arrogant. It is important that, in the event of a disagreement, we know how to proceed in the most appropriate way.
First of all, we must know which battles we are interested in fighting and which ones are not. For example, we should never fall into the trap of reacting to a personal comment of an ideological nature that the interviewer may make, no matter how much we disagree with him. If we feel cornered, better try to change the subject with a polite smile and asking a work-related question to distract attention. If the interviewer insists on similar topics, we can safely say that we prefer not to speak out on such matters and that it is an illegal question in a job interview.
On the other hand, if it is a disagreement regarding the procedure and it is a well-founded disagreement (for example, if we have worked with a more efficient method, if we know that obsolete tools are being used or similar issues), then we must say so, but always with respect and humility. A diplomatic way to disagree in this situation would be to look for an example based on experience and to formulate our differences as a question. For example:
– Can I ask you a question? When I was working at ghost writers company A, we used the X2 program for the task you describe to me because, compared to the X1 they use here, the efficiency was increased by 30%. I find the X1 to be a very good tool too, but have you considered switching to the X2 to increase your productivity?
If the reason for the disagreement is the working conditions, the question is somewhat more difficult, but we can also say so in case they consider improving the offer.
We want a job that lasts
If we say yes to everything and then we are not satisfied with half of things, it will show in our daily attitude and it will be known that we are lying in the interview. Little by little we will lose what little enthusiasm we started with and our performance will be less. Finding a good job is difficult, but not impossible, so much better if we try to make it last. The interview is a good time to lay a foundation on what we want and what not, and also to show the interviewer who we are and what we can contribute.
Prepare the interview
If the job really interests us, it is better to prepare the interview in advance. And preparing it does not only consist of being presentable or reviewing our knowledge about non-verbal communication, it is also necessary to investigate about the company, its functions, its working methods, etc. The more we know about them, the more we will impress the interviewer and not because we recite all the activities of the company and the names of its managers in alphabetical order, but because we can ask more timely questions and demonstrate both our interest and our ideas to improve something specific.
Mark the time
A job interview supposes a vertical relationship of unequal power in which it is the interviewer who sets the times. Although it is logical to respect that, we must not allow ourselves to be intimidated by the situation; If at any time we need a little more time to think about the answer to one of the questions, we should not be ashamed to ask and, without getting involved, give a somewhat broader answer at a given moment. Not everything is black and white and, whatever happens, it is always better to leave the interview knowing that we have not left anything important in the inkwell.
Don’t argue
If at any given moment we express our disagreement with an issue and the interviewer disagrees with us, we should not argue in any case. Responding with “you are right, I never saw it that way” or something like that will be much better than implying that the interviewer has no idea. We must respect the fact that, in a job interview, the person who is evaluating us will be right, period (even if he is not). Better to make a mental note of what their response has been and then decide whether or not we want to work for that company.
Illegal questions
We have already talked to you in depth about what the illegal questions are and how to answer them, but to do a quick review: in a job interview, they cannot ask our age, our leisure activities, our ideology or creed, our family situation, our ethnic origin, how healthy we are, etc. Faced with questions of this caliber, we must politely express our rejection.
