• Editorial Team
• On March 9, 2012

Interviewing for a job is no joke, but that doesn’t mean humor can’t help you. It can lighten the mood, putting both you and your interviewer at ease; smooth over an awkward moment; and show what you’re like to work with. But use it sparingly, experts say. “Don’t forget — If you’re naturally more of a straight-shooter (or your interviewer seems to be), don’t feel obliged to unleash your inner Jim Carey. Misplaced humor can backfire,” says career coach Caroline Ceniza-Levine.