Human resource personnel interview job applicants on a daily basis. Hiring the wrong person for a position can have long-term repercussions. The interview process plays a important part of the hiring process. With the ever-tightening restrictions on what questions human resource personnel can ask it is increasing more important to listen to what job say and let their words to the talking. The following exchange demonstrates the power of Psychological Narrative Analysis techniques during applicant interviews.

HR PERSON: I see in your resume that you have a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

JOB APPLICANT: I attended the University of Illinois and majored in business administration. I also minored in psychology. Minoring in psychology helped me increase sales numbers in my previous position. Does your company offer a continuing education program? I’m think­ing about going after my MBA.

The job applicant used the Word Qualifiers attended and “majored in busi­ness administration” to give the impression that he received a degree from the University of Illinois. The job applicant stated that minoring in psychol­ogy increased his sales numbers in his previous position. This statement accomplishes two goals. First, it supports the illusion that the job applicant received a bachelor’s degree and second, it creates the illusion that the job applicant was successful in his previous position. The Job Applicant used Misdirection to change the focus of the question from earning a bachelor’s degree to his ambition of earning a MBA. This Misdirection achieved two goals. First, it supports the illusion that the job applicant received a bache­lor’s degree and second, creates the illusion that the job applicant is ambi­tious. The interviewer recognized the job applicant’s non-answer and asked a direct question for clarification. The job applicant told the truth, but the truth about what?)

HR PERSON: What year did you graduate?

JOB APPLICANT: I attended the University of Illinois from 1978 to 1982. I really enjoyed my college years. Don’t you wish life was that simple again?

The job applicant used the Word Qualifier “attended.” The job applicant used the Word Qualifiers “1978 to 1982” to give the illusion that he graduat­ed in 1982. Many students attend universities but do not graduate. The job applicant used Misdirection to change the focus of the question from the year he graduated to his quality of life at college. The job applicant further used Misdirection “Don’t you wish life was that simple again?” to redirect the con­versation from the year he graduated to the interviewer’s quality of life at col­lege. The interviewer recognized the job applicant’s non-answer and asked a direct question for clarification. The job applicant told the truth, but the truth about what?

HR PERSON: So, you received your bachelor’s degree in 1982?

JOB APPLICANT: Yes, that’s when I left the University of Illinois.
The Word Qualifier “left” indicates that he may have left the university with­out receiving a degree. The interviewer recognized the job applicant’s non-answer and asked a direct question for clarification. The job applicant told the truth, but the truth about what?

HR PERSON: Did you leave with a bachelor’s degree?

JOB APPLICANT: I had to leave college for a while because my mom got sick and I had to care for her. I would have had a bachelor’s degree except for a few classes I have to take.

The job applicant used Future in the Past “I would have had a bachelor’s degree.” The job applicant told the interviewer what he would have had not what he actually has. The job applicant used the Word Qualifier “except for a few classes” to continue the illusion that has a bachelor’s degree within the framework of Future in the Past. The job applicant introduced an emotional component to his response by stating, “I had to leave college for a while because my mom got sick and I had to care for her.” The job applicant used the Word Qualifier “for a while” to give the illusion that he returned to com­plete his degree.

HR PERSON: So, you don’t have your bachelor’s degree yet, but you are taking classes to complete the degree. It takes a person with a lot of determination to work and go to school at the same time.

JOB APPLICANT: Yes sir, it does.

The HR Person forced the job applicant to admit that he does not have a college degree while, at the same time, putting a positive spin on the job applicant’s oversight by telling him that it takes a determined person to work and go to school at the same time. The HR Person will not likely hire the job applicant because he lacks candor, which is not a good trait in a potential employee.