Interview Prep · True or False
Is it true that if the interviewer makes a self-deprecating joke, you should agree with them to be friendly?
False. Agreeing with their self-criticism is awkward. Smile or make a lighthearted comment instead.
Agreeing with self-criticism is socially clumsy, and a light or warm response reads as tact, which is exactly what the moment is quietly testing.
Taking a self-deprecating remark literally and confirming it, creating an awkwardness the interviewer will remember.
This scenario is one of 500 in the Skillful Interview Prep track. Each card states a situation, you decide true or false, and the explanation follows immediately.
- Answer
- False
- Track
- Interview Prep
- Topics
- social-calibration, conversation-tone
Also asked as
How do i respond to an interviewers self deprecating joke? Should i agree when an interviewer criticises themselves? What do i say to a modest interviewer?
The scenario in full
If the interviewer makes a self-deprecating joke, you should agree with them to be friendly.
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that if the interviewer makes a self-deprecating joke, you should agree with them to be friendly?
False. Agreeing with their self-criticism is awkward. Smile or make a lighthearted comment instead.
How do i respond to an interviewers self deprecating joke?
False. Agreeing with their self-criticism is awkward. Smile or make a lighthearted comment instead. Agreeing with self-criticism is socially clumsy, and a light or warm response reads as tact, which is exactly what the moment is quietly testing.
Should i agree when an interviewer criticises themselves?
False. Agreeing with their self-criticism is awkward. Smile or make a lighthearted comment instead. Agreeing with self-criticism is socially clumsy, and a light or warm response reads as tact, which is exactly what the moment is quietly testing.
What do i say to a modest interviewer?
False. Agreeing with their self-criticism is awkward. Smile or make a lighthearted comment instead. Agreeing with self-criticism is socially clumsy, and a light or warm response reads as tact, which is exactly what the moment is quietly testing.
Where does this interview prep question come from?
It is one of 500 scenarios in the Skillful Interview Prep track. Each card states a realistic situation, you decide true or false, and the explanation follows immediately.
How do I practise more questions like this?
Start the Interview Prep quiz. It runs about two minutes per session, the first 150 questions are free across every category, and your progress saves automatically.