# "Damn" in a job interview: dealbreaker? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 20, 2006, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-in-a-job-interview-dealbreaker/381211 "2006-11-20T22:02:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2006, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-in-a-job-interview-dealbreaker/381211/1 "2006-11-20T22:02:34Z")
We just interviewed a candidate today who was describing something and used “damn” as an adjective talking about data or a system or something. I’m someone who is pretty sensitive about this kind of thing so I was a little shocked. Overall he was a good candidate and we’re pretty desperate so I am assuming he will get hired, but if I had the luxury to be choosy that would be a big strike against him. Opinions? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2006, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-in-a-job-interview-dealbreaker/381211/2 "2006-11-20T22:03:45Z")
You’re pretty damn uptight. (Not that I would say “damn,” in a job interview, but jeez.) ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2006, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-in-a-job-interview-dealbreaker/381211/3 "2006-11-20T22:12:48Z")
The team I used to work for had strong personalities. It would be a plus, not a strike - depending on appropriateness and context. We wouldn’t want someone who’d run off to HR the first time someone swore in a meeting. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2006, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-in-a-job-interview-dealbreaker/381211/4 "2006-11-20T22:13:38Z")
I probably wouldn’t have even noticed. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2006, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-in-a-job-interview-dealbreaker/381211/5 "2006-11-20T22:14:09Z")
Cursing hurts my ears and I tend to lose respect for people that have to resort to cursing to make their points. But “damn” isn’t a curse, it’s an intensifier. So context matters. 1. That’s the best damn receptionist I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. 2. That damn courier is late again! #1 shows a bit too much exuberance, but it’s not something that would bother me. #2 shows the person could be a hot head and fly off the handle over little things. One is positive, the other negative. The “damn” just makes them more so. ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2006, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-in-a-job-interview-dealbreaker/381211/6 "2006-11-20T22:17:19Z")
Could go either way depending on the circumstances and context. I don’t find it particularly offensive, but I can see where it might be in an interview. First impressions and all. If you’re going to hire the guy, it might be worth mentioning that it almost cost him the position, just so he knows that a certain amount of discretion is expected. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2006, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-in-a-job-interview-dealbreaker/381211/7 "2006-11-20T22:17:31Z")
I said “load of shit” in an interview once, and got the job. I do not work in the porn industry, either. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2006, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-in-a-job-interview-dealbreaker/381211/8 "2006-11-20T22:19:46Z")
[QUOTE=jjimm] I said “load of shit” in an interview once, and got the job. I do not work in the porn industry, either. [/QUOTE] Political speechwriter? ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2006, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-in-a-job-interview-dealbreaker/381211/9 "2006-11-20T22:19:56Z")
I interview a good number of people these days. That would not rank in the top 1001 things I would care about. I have worked in very white collar places where people make half a million dollars a year didn’t hesitate to drop the F-bomb so it doesn’t seem so shocking to me. We have trouble finding people that are within a fucking mile of what the job requirements are so I don’t quibble about the details. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2006, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-in-a-job-interview-dealbreaker/381211/10 "2006-11-20T22:26:06Z")
Most engineers that I know are pretty foul mouthed. Saying damn in an interview wouldn’t even be noticed at any of the places that I’ve ever worked. Of course “fuck” is very commonly used in the workplace around here from the techs to the General Manager. We are also literally regarded at one of the best if not the best at what we do in the world. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2006, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-in-a-job-interview-dealbreaker/381211/11 "2006-11-20T22:27:55Z")
The last time I worked for an employer who would’ve objected to “damn”, I think it was babysitting for 75¢/hour. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2006, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-in-a-job-interview-dealbreaker/381211/12 "2006-11-20T22:29:35Z")
[QUOTE=Antinor01] Political speechwriter? [/QUOTE] Sermons. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2006, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-in-a-job-interview-dealbreaker/381211/13 "2006-11-20T22:30:29Z")
What if he had said, “Jeebus forking cripes!” Would he get good points for euphemism? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2006, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-in-a-job-interview-dealbreaker/381211/14 "2006-11-20T22:32:01Z")
It wouldn’t bother me in the sense of bad manners, but it would be a bit of a red flag if it seemed like someone was getting overly aggitated and angry over something trivial. I’d rather have a relaxed interview than everyone on their best, artificial behavior. [QUOTE=gigi] Overall he was a good candidate and we’re pretty desperate… [/QUOTE] I’m looking for a job. What’s the gig and where are you? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2006, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-in-a-job-interview-dealbreaker/381211/15 "2006-11-20T22:32:39Z")
What if he DAMN had Tourette’s? WANKER eh? Profanity COCK is not something BIGNOSE people with that CUNT are able to control BELL END. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2006, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-in-a-job-interview-dealbreaker/381211/16 "2006-11-20T22:32:39Z")
[QUOTE=jjimm] Sermons. [/QUOTE] Same difference. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Gidget\_Widget](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ce73a5/32.png) [@Gidget\_Widget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gidget_Widget)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2006, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-in-a-job-interview-dealbreaker/381211/17 "2006-11-20T22:34:05Z")
I don’t see why it should. I, like **jjimm** , dropped the shit-bomb in my interview, and I got hired. Then again, I was interviewing for a university position, so who knows. ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2006, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-in-a-job-interview-dealbreaker/381211/18 "2006-11-20T22:38:48Z")
Are you serious? ---
**Author:** ![cranston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@cranston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cranston)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2006, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-in-a-job-interview-dealbreaker/381211/19 "2006-11-20T22:40:46Z")
[QUOTE=Gidget Widget] I don’t see why it should. I, like **jjimm** , dropped the shit-bomb in my interview, and I got hired. Then again, I was interviewing for a university position, so who knows. [/QUOTE] True, it’s all true. It’s not really what you say in the interview - so long as you can talk the basic talk - it’s what you do. Mirror body language. Don’t blink so much. Talk slower. Don’t lean over slightly to the left, cut a rich one and then sniff the air proudly: ‘Did anyone order a slice of cheese? It is an old cheese. And full of bengeance’. And obviously, turn off all Blsckberries, PDAs, phones and pagers. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2006, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-in-a-job-interview-dealbreaker/381211/20 "2006-11-20T22:42:08Z")
Is “Godfrey Daniel!!!” OK? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-in-a-job-interview-dealbreaker/381211.md?page=2)