Job Searching Humor

In your job search, there will be plenty of moments where you will want to laugh or cry. It can be a brutal process of constant rejections that can get you down. Instead of going to the corner of your room to curl up into a ball, let's look at the benefits of job hunting humor and why looking on the lighter side of life benefits your job search.

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life

In the famous words of Monty Python, "always look on the bright side of life." One of the brighter sides of life is humor as it builds trust, reduces tension, and brings people closer together. How can humor be defined though?

You can be humorous by telling a joke…

I saw an advertisement in a window that said: 'TV for sale. $1. Volume stuck on full.' I thought, "I can't turn that down."

Or you can simply define humor as a smile and a good state of mind. It is a broad definition that usually relies on the context of a situation. If it is in good taste, then don't be afraid to express yourself during different stages of your job search.

Using Humor in the Job Search

Many people will hesitate to use humor during their job search for fear of being inappropriate. The last thing you would want is to be excluded from the hiring process because you made a joke that rubbed the recruiter the wrong way. Other people may also think that they're not that funny so it's not worth trying to be.

Should you walk into an interview and begin with, 'why did the chicken cross the road?' Well, no. Can you show that you have a good sense of humor through positive interactions with an interviewer? Absolutely! Just be careful not to overdo it and come across as unserious about the job you're interviewing for.

Say a recruiter is deciding who to hire from two candidates that have the same qualifications, experiences, and credentials. One has a positive attitude, can be laughed with, and sees the humor in things. The other is colder, serious, and doesn't seem like much fun. Who would you choose?

Humor can make you memorable to a recruiter and help you stand out. If you can bring humor to a workplace, it can also help lift the mood of other staff at a company. Doing this, will reduce staff turnover and potentially improve job satisfaction for fellow employees. These potential benefits can persuade a recruiter to take the chance on you.

It's No Laughing Matter

Many people nowadays feel overworked, stressed, and disengaged from work. A lot of workplace environments nowadays stress the importance of results and working overtime to reach these goals. Research an organization properly, check out employee reviews online, and make sure you're not applying for somewhere that is toxic.

If you really crave a fun working environment, it may even be worth highlighting that you have a good sense of humor on your resume. If an employer disregards you because of this, then that could work in your favor as you find out now, rather than later about what their working environment might be like. Remember that an employer isn't only interviewing you, but you are also interviewing them.

Some Good Old-Fashioned Jokes

Job hunting humor is a fun approach to staying positive about your future. There are a lot of hurdles to overcome and the process can take its toll on you. Keep applying, laugh, and embrace the brighter side of life.

To end the article on a light note, here are ten jokes about job hunting humor:

1. The interviewer asked me if I could perform under pressure. I said "no, but I can do Bohemian Rhapsody."
2. A friend of mine is applying for a job at Old MacDonald's Farm. He wants to be the new CIEIO.
3. I have a few jokes about unemployed people but it doesn't matter, none of them work.
4. Recruiter: it says here you're quick at math.

   Candidate: I am.

   Recruiter: Ok, what's 12 X 243?

   Candidate: 20.

   Recruiter: You're not even close!

   Candidate: No, but it was quick.

5. Why did the invisible man turn down the job offer? Because he couldn't see himself doing it.
6. When an employment application asks who is to be notified in case of emergency, I always write "a very good doctor."
7. I'm applying for a job in a flower company. I hear that their business is blooming.
8. I rejected an offer to name all the cul-de-sacs in my town. I thought it sounded like a real dead-end job.
9. I applied for a job and they asked me for three references. I wrote, "a dictionary, a thesaurus, and a map."
10. A resume is a list of all the things you never want to do again.