Job interview tips: How to disagree during job interviews

Getting a job interview takes you a step closer to landing that job. But what if you do not agree with all of the ideas presented to you by an interviewer? Will this lead to a disagreement and impact the results of your application?

As a candidate, you aim to use your interview skills to get to the next level of the application process. During an interview, you’re inclined to shy away from difficult conversations and acknowledge an idea that’s been presented to you by politely moving your head up and down, even if you do not completely agree. It’s not easy to disagree, especially when something important is at stake. But does this actually give a good impression of you?

Read on for some job interview tips about how to reduce the challenges and stress when disagreeing during an interview.

Research. Job interview prep is important. Always read about the company, and learn about their culture, what they believe in and, most importantly, if they are receptive to differences in views and welcoming of new ideas. This will give you a chance to evaluate if the company’s beliefs resonate with yours and if working within their culture will be worthwhile in the long run. Among interview preparation tips, the most vital is to always do your research.

Intuition. Like in any other professional conversations, being confident and sure of what you are saying gives you credibility. When you feel that something is not right or you do not agree with it, chances are that 90% of the time it will not work to your advantage to ignore your intuition. Simply put, always consider what your intuition tells you. Although this is more a life tip than a job interview tip, use your intuition as your guiding light during your interview. You know what will and will not work for you, and there’s no interview skill stronger than trusting your own intuition.

Healthy discourse. This is an area in which your job interview prep and interview skills will come in handy. Keep in mind that you are still in the interview room, answering questions posed by your interviewer. So instead of losing your cool or trying to avoid answering the question, keep the conversation professional and use this as an opportunity to learn more about your prospective employer. If, at some point, ideas pop up in interviews that you do not agree with, it can be hard to find interview advice about how to navigate such situations. We recommend that you ask questions to further clarify. This will challenge your interviewer and give them an idea of your character. Treat this as an exchange of concepts and ideas. Be open to their views and then politely say that you do not agree with them and then clearly and calmly state your reason why. This way gives them the opportunity to see their concept from another perspective.

At the end of the day, no interview guide or tips matter as much as your intention and intuition. Remember that the interview, as with any other conversation, communication is always a two-way street. What you say in your message and you perceive from their response are vital in making sure both of you are on the same page. So the next time you do your job interview prep, do your research, brush up on your interview skills, and think about what your intentions are and how fulfilled you’d like to be after.