Job interviews are candidates' opportunity to prove to a company that they are highly capable, smart and the right fit for a job. However, coming off too confident can be a deal breaker for many bosses.
Anyone who demonstrates "a lack of humility and an over sense of self-promotion" won't get hired by Walter Robb, co-CEO of Whole Foods, he said during an interview with The Wall Street Journal.
Arrogance can sink an interview at Google, too, according to Business Insider. Instead, the most important qualities to showcase are emergent leadership and humility. In a 2014 interview with The New York Times, Laszlo Bock, senior vice president of people operations at Google, said, "Without humility, you are unable to learn."
In a collaborative environment, the most capable workers are those who demonstrate a desire to lead and grow, but also willingness to step back and let others contribute their own talents and ideas when the situation calls for it.
Of course, some degree of self-promotion is necessary to get ahead. However, delivery is key. Maggie Warrell, contributor to Forbes, suggests self-promotion should focus on the value an individual can bring to a company. "Self-promotion is about strategically building your 'personal brand' to ensure that those who can help you accomplish more in your career will know not just who you are, but the value you have (and want) to contribute," she wrote.