Honesty and transparency are strong leadership traits – not just when you’re serving in a leadership role, but also when you’re interviewing for one. There’s no question that honest job candidates land the best-suited roles. 

Strong talent recruiters and hiring companies need relevant experience and technical skills for the specific roles we fill, but resumes, job descriptions, and the right qualifications are only part of our equation in recruiting candidates. 

If you’re a professional looking for guidance in landing your ideal position – one that’s as good for you as a potential employer – this article is for you. It focuses on how and why being candid during the job interview process will help you secure a position in the job market that’s your best personal and professional fit. 

We look for qualified candidates who are forthright with their own goals and requirements 

Talent recruiters and many employers welcome transparency from job seekers because this is how great company-candidate matches are made. It’s how everybody wins and why new hires stay in their roles for years. 

I’m Sarah Rowland-Varner, Area Director with Goodwin Recruiting. My track record of long-term candidate placements in executive and leadership recruiting, legal recruiting, accounting recruiting, and more, underscores the importance of understanding the unique needs of both clients and candidates. 

Here are some tips that will have a positive impact on your job search during the talent recruitment process. 

Honesty clarifies job, skills, and fit alignment for employees early in the hiring process

A lot of top candidates are hesitant to be bold in job interviews for fear the interviewer will think they’re trying to impress, or that they’ll appear difficult or not the right fit for the job. So, these candidates keep their cards close to the vest. 

This doesn’t benefit anyone. When mutual goals and expectations aren’t clear, both sides end up assuming or guessing, which leads to disaster. People accept jobs that don’t fit and then leave. Simply said, misalignment kills motivation and productivity. 

On the contrary, when you’re clear about your professional goals, values, management style, and expectations in a job interview, you reveal insights into how you operate, lead, and contribute to a team and company. This leads recruiters and hiring managers to respond in kind by presenting the role honestly, rather than selling you an idealized version of the job. 

Sharing your insights naturally strengthens your candidacy for roles and teams that are a good match for how you perform and why you will be a positive addition to an organization’s workforce. 

Transparency filters out the wrong roles

Many quality candidates approach job interviews with the intent to give the right answers – what they think the interviewer wants to hear – rather than giving real answers that define what would actually create job satisfaction and make the candidate most productive and successful. 

Here’s the truth: Job interviews are not auditions. They are mutual ‘fit’ checks. Being open about any limitations, preferences, or dealbreakers you may have will prevent you from landing a job that looks good on paper but leads to frustration or burnout. 

For example, if one of your requirements is a flexible, hybrid working model, be open about how many days you want to work in the office versus remotely. I recently wrote a LinkedIn post on this subject that got great traction: 

If Flexibility Is Non-negotiable, Say It Up Front 

Bottom line: Discussing your expectations or constraints isn’t just okay; it’s smart to talk about in interviews so that you don’t end up saying, “I didn’t sign up for this.” Transparency saves everyone time, money, and frustration. 

Truthful conversations lead to sustainable success

Qualified applicants who present their real strengths and limitations during job interviews not only set themselves up for a great candidate experience but are far more likely to step into roles where expectations are realistic, support is available, and long-term growth is possible. 

When both sides are transparent, these honest conversations signal a healthy company culture. If transparency isn’t welcome in an interview, it won’t magically appear after an offer letter. You deserve to interview with and work for a company that makes honesty not only feel safe but welcome. 

Get more strategies for building trust from day one 

There’s power in NOT compromising on what you really want in a job! Be an honest, bold, and strong candidate. This builds credibility around your values and goals, and it filters out the wrong jobs while moving the ideal opportunities toward you. You’ll rise to the top of the talent pool for the right opportunities with the right organization. 

I have more insights to share with talented individuals and I would love to hear yours. Connect with me and let’s explore the best career opportunities for your life, your future, and your professional journey – and how to put your best foot forward during job interviews.