It happens I work for a big corporation. For the past six months I’ve been trying to change my current job. The reason I am doing is not the job. It is the toxic and incompetent manager I work with. Three years ago I accepted the job without knowing who the manager would be, as there were two recruitments ongoing in the same time – for my position and hers. I kept my optimism while accepting the offer as I consider myself an open-minded and easy-going person who can get along with everybody. Well, in this case it did not work shit happens So after 3 years of a cooperation with my current manager, that has its ups and downs, I decided to look for other opportunities. And there goes my experience!

On LinkedIn I see lots of recruiters providing tips about the interviews. Usually they say to be honest and sincere, as the job interview is an opportunity to present ourselves to the future and potential employer. So I’ve been incredibly honest and sincere lately during these! The reason I was doing it was that I think I will only attract people similar to me by being authentic. What a crap! This does not apply to the professional career, no matter what recruiters say! My conclusion is very simple – I need to play the corporate game in order to get a new job.

Question nr 1 recruiters usually ask during the job interview – Why do I want to change the job? Well, there are only two reasons for changing the job – people want to earn more money and learn something new. As as simple as that! However I learnt I cannot say it so openly. I need to bullshit the answer with a statement like: the current company I work in, does not give me too much opportunities to my professional developpment bla bla bla, so I have decided to look for new chances outside of it.

Question nr 2 and one of my favorite ones: what do you consider your biggest failure in your career? And mine was accepting a job, three years ago, without knowing who the manager would be. In my case I ended up on a therapy. From the time perspective I do admit it was the best that could’ve happened to me! However, I noticed when I speak openly about it, the interviewers back off. Hey, is there anything wrong with the psychotherapy? Is there anything wrong admitting that I come across a toxic manager and in order to deal with the issue I was looking for help?! In my opinion it only shows how emotionally developed I have become.

And here comes the paradox – the recruiters require from me, as the potential employee, to be honest, but when I am, they are not able to handle my truth! Would the reason for not getting a new job is being too honest? I cannot even find it out as they never call back with the recruitment results. I am a big girl, I can handle rejection. Knowing the reason of not being offered the job would make me analyze it and work on what the recruiters/ hiring managers think requires improvement from my side.

So what is the point of writing on LinkedIn, I am quoting now – “Be yourself- people will immediately see when you pretend to be someone else. Authenticity is key!” Is it? I have been authentic for the past 6 months and the result sucks. I’m well educated, 13 years working experience in IT, I speak two foreign languages not including my mother tongue, I have a few certificates, I am responsible, hard-working and reliable, so the question is – why don’t I get a  job?

And I think I found the answer to the question. Too much honestly and authenticity does not pay off. From now on I start playing the corporate game. Even though the social media tips for an interview may say differently, my latest experience shows the best is to use the bullshitting tactic during the interviews. As I have never really liked it, I find it hard to play the game. However I am willing to see where it will lead me. In my opinion the interviewers or hiring managers don’t want to hear my truth, they want to hear I will adapt to the company and its rules, in the same I have no right to have my own opinions. Sad, but true. Or maybe I’m looking for a job in the wrong country? Maybe in other European countries interviewers are different?

I’ve always loved working with people! I keep saying that processes and procedures you can learn, but the most important is to have good relations with people, as only then you have the job done and the business running well. Looks like my point of view is totally different than the corporate one, so I decided to play the corporate game 🙂 Let’s see where it takes me in the nearest future!