Adams & Garth Blog

In today’s day and age, having a big ego is frowned upon. We’re supposed to be modest, diplomatic, and empathetic at all times.

But did you know that having a big ego could actually help in your next job interview?

In fact, according to new research published in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology, people who are typically dubbed as “narcissists” actually performed better in job interviews because they promoted themselves unapologetically. As a result, they walked away with higher ratings; those that took a more modest tack were rated lower.

So if being a “narcissist” or having a big ego conjures up negative images for most people, how could these traits possibly help during a job interview?

As one of the leading employment agencies in Lynchburg, we know that a job interview is actually one of the times where it’s good to brag about yourself and your accomplishments – something that’s right up a narcissist’s alley. And in the job interview setting, narcissists come across as more confident and more capable (whether they really are or not is another matter). Besides being more confident, narcissists also rated higher because they smiled more and used hand gestures more, which established their likability and furthered their credibility with their interviewer.

While this might sound patently unfair to you, there is something to be learned here – that delivery is critically important to interview success, no matter how skilled and experienced you are. And in order for you to make a positive impression in your next interview, it’s vital that you promote yourself, your past accomplishments, and what unique value you can bring to the table for a potential employer.

If you don’t do it, who else will?

If you’d like additional interview tips, or help finding a new job, give us a call. As one of the leading employment agencies in Lynchburg, we know where to look to find top jobs with top employers in Lynchburg and throughout Central Virginia. Get started now.