To paraphrase Forrest Gump, candidates are like a box of chocolate, you never know who you are going to get. Sure, a resume might tell you something, just like a box of chocolates contains, well, at least some chocolate. But it’s what's under the chocolate coating that counts if we are maintaining the metaphor. And some of these are prime examples of “you never know what you're going to get.” 

It’s no secret that recruiters are more likely to favor a candidate who they have a rapport with. So, presumably, many candidates like to present a bit of their personality. Let’s face it, the average person isn’t a robot who just eats, sleeps, and breathes work. Unfortunately, some candidates take this a little too far.

Forbes magazine breaks down some advice for interviewees. It’s important to ultimately present yourself as professional. So talking down your previous boss or manager is off the table, even if they 100% deserve it. If questioned about your hobbies, maybe don’t say you mostly drink beer and watch basketball. By no means lie, being genuine is still pretty important. But don’t fall into the trap of saying everything you feel right off the bat. 

Unfortunately, this is a prime reason why a lot of us grit our teeth at the idea of sitting down for a work interview. Because there is nothing intrinsically wrong with enjoying a glass or wine or a beer in your free time. And who doesn’t like lounging around on the couch? 

There are actually a number of psychological impulses that cause us to overshare when we really shouldn't. Psychology Today talks about some positive and negative reasons people overshare. Sometimes we want the other person to feel comfortable. Awkward silences are painful, and after about four seconds, the average person will say anything to fill the space. Interestingly, some detectives use this psychological tidbit to get suspects to start talking. But even in a mundane setting, we desperately want to avoid silence. 

All in all, these experiences also point to the all-too-common issue of workplace stress. It often feels like being between a rock and a hard place, deadlines, responsibilities and difficult managers on one side and the challenges of job seeking on the other. Common sense would dictate that stressed workers are unproductive workers and there is research to back this idea up. Research conducted by Tina Bui, M.D., Et al. found that tension and stress directly reduced workers effectiveness. Now if we could only get this study in front of every manager…

But let’s not just think about managing stress as a way to be “more productive.” Stress is debilitating enough as is. Fortunately, there are a few things we can do. Researcher Kamaldeep Bhui, Et al. discovered what tends to help people deal with stress in general and in the workplace in particular. First and foremost, the support of friends and family is vital. Good coworkers are a close second. We are, after all, social animals.

Physical health is second. Now, not everyone needs a personal trainer and to get shredded in three months. Just a good balance of nutrition and simple exercise like yoga can help reduce tension. Keeping your mind engaged is important too. Hobbies and other activities were found to have a very positive effect on stress levels. So If you ever even start feeling guilty about a personal project, just know that science says you should do it. 

“You know what would really solve my stress? More pay,” you might be thinking. And you would be absolutely correct. Now try saying it out loud. Seriously. It might not get you the money, but similar to a lot of the confessions here, honesty actually has legitimate psychological benefits. Bonnie M.Le, et al. found that just saying what you think and feel helps with self-acceptance and lowers your risk of depression. So maybe don’t shout it out in the office, but definitely shout it out somewhere.