Normally, People Are Put Off by Such Behavior' but in a Job Interview It Might Actually Help

Acting a bit self-important rather than being humble about your achievements will make you a more successful job candidate, putting some people at an advantage or disadvantage for positions depending on how they were raised, a new study suggests.

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The research from a team at the University of British Columbia found that even if the candidates were equally qualified, those who were narcissistic were more likely to get the job than those who were modest.

This becomes particularly important, according to the research team, if the person was brought up in a country that placed more of an importance on humility.

"A job interview is one of the few social situations where narcissistic behaviors such as boasting actually create a positive impression," Del Paulhus with the university's psychology department said. "Normally, people are put off by such behavior, especially over repeated exposure.

“The pro-narcissism bias results in an indirect cultural bias — particularly against East Asians.”

Those with Japanese, Chinese or Korean upbringings were less likely to receive a "definitely hire" rating from reviewers in this study.

With these results, Paulhus said candidates need to consider self-promotion more consciously, but interviewers should also "look beyond cultural style and assess individual qualifications."

"Instead of superficial charm, interviewers must analyze candidates’ potential long-term fit in the organization," he continued.

This study was published in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology.

(H/T: PhysOrg via Reddit)

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