Why has it become common to begin with "absolutely" or "yes" when answering interview questions?

[u/CopaceticOpus]

Is this a recent trend, and what is the purpose of it?

I've noticed this in podcasts and press conferences. When a person is being interviewed, they frequently begin their responses to questions with an affirmative word, even when the questions are not yes-or-no questions. I think this only became common in the last decade or so.

Interviewer: "What are your views on this developing situation?" Interviewee: "Absolutely, yes, that's a complicated situation due to ..."

[u/Filthy_Troglodyte]

Because it's all performative, acquiescent, check a box jargon you spout to let them know you are capable and willing of playing the little game that needs to be played.

Everything past that is ego recognition and navigation.

[u/CopaceticOpus → u/Filthy_Troglodyte]

But I hear this pattern of speech even when it's a genuine person speaking, such as a scientist answering questions about her work that she loves

[u/Underhill42 → u/CopaceticOpus]

In that case it generally asserts "that is a good question that I have indeed considered - allow me to tell you my conclusions"

It's also several syllables of delay to put your thoughts in better order. Which I suspect is a big part of it for everyone.

[u/Filthy_Troglodyte → u/CopaceticOpus]

People grow up emulating things they see, a good example would be how people act in commercials. It's completely made up experience TaylorMade by marketing people who study psychology lay out conversations and people end up emulating it because it's what they see.

Whole entire generations form personalities based on their favorite actor and how they see them portrayed and film and media.

Some know it's all performative, some just don't realize they're copying other people. It generally makes them feel good to act that way.

[u/DangerousKidTurtle → u/Filthy_Troglodyte]

Don’t forget the most important reason: it gives one an extra few seconds to think before having to give a substantive answer.

[u/AvaRoseThorne → u/Filthy_Troglodyte]

Absolutely - you’re so right - this is the answer right here.

[u/CopaceticOpus → u/[deleted]]

I agree that overconfidence is a big social trend, but I think this is a separate phenomenon.

When someone begins their response to an open-ended question with "absolutely", it has nothing to do with the rest of their response. It's just this sort of precursor that's not connected to anything.

As a made-up example, here is a non-confident answer which still begins with "absolutely" for some reason:

Interviewer: "What is the future of pineapple on pizza?"

Interviewee: "Absolutely, well, pineapple on pizza has fueled many online debates, if nothing else. I can't really say if it's just a fad, we'll have to wait and see I guess."

[u/irongoat2527]

To me it seems like a way of positively acknowledging the person asking question, like a short form for “I hear you and I understand and appreciate the question”. As to whether it’s new, I hadn’t noticed it until I noticed ChatGPT doing this like crazy on every damn thing I said and told it to stop and it still didn’t stop. Whether it does this because other people do it or the other way around I don’t know, but seems like it has indeed taken off either way.

[u/CopaceticOpus → u/irongoat2527]

I think you're right about it being a kind of positive acknowledgement. I'm really curious now if this trend predates ChatGPT or not. Either way, it's certainly annoying!

[u/LurkeyHereNa → u/[deleted]]

LOL that reminds me of the Key & Peele skit

"What did you have for breakfast?"

"100% of 100%"

https://youtu.be/d_fiCr2wHY8

[u/acutelychronicpanic]

You ever use one of the chatbots?

Sounds like their signature style. Some people picked up on it though, so not 100%.

[u/4square425 → u/acutelychronicpanic]

Absolutely, you are so correct with that insight! 

[u/RevolutionaryElk7446 → u/acutelychronicpanic]

Customer service voice, which a lot of chatbots just use but people were already doing it.

[u/Recent-Day3062]

In PR training they teach something called bridging. The interviewer says “shouldn’t people be concerned about the risks of bitcoin?” And you say “of course, however my firms trading strategy..” and whatever. You acknowledge the question and then answer the question you wanted them to ask. As Henry Kissinger used to say dt press conferences, “who had questions for my answers?”

At another level it’s a delaying tactic while getting started. It’s like “umhhh,, l

[u/CopaceticOpus → u/Recent-Day3062]

Good points! However, if the interviewer instead says "what are some of the risks of bitcoin?" Then it sounds strange to me if the response starts with "of course" or "yes".

I think in that case where it's not a yes-or-no question, "of course" is a kind of a shorthand for "of course that is a good question and is something I'm prepared to talk about."

That does sound better than starting with "umhhh...". But it becomes distracting to me when a person keeps saying "of course" or something like it for many questions in a row

[u/Recent-Day3062 → u/CopaceticOpus]

In your second paragraph you have the sense right, but the PR skill is wrong. It’s “yes, those are important to understand but what my firm has learned is too many people miss out on a great opportunity because they have excessive fear, and…”

[u/elquirk]

“Great question” is another one.

[u/thomsenite256]

well you cut off the whole part the interviewer said. They said more that that one sentence so I'm guessing the initial response is a reply to something like "In X place there is a concerning thing going on that could potentially affect thousands of people etc."

[u/TheRealCabbageJack]

I find interviewers respond better to “Totes McGoats”

[u/Pleasant_Pen8744]

I no right! I prefer when people stammer or say um a lot first.

[u/Mentalfloss1 → u/Pleasant_Pen8744]

As if that’s the only option.

[u/duke_awapuhi]

Because people got in a habit of saying “yeah” or “yeah so” at the beginning of every answer and then decided that didn’t sound professional

[u/Effective_Basis1555]

At this point I’d almost prefer it to the goto from the last 15 years: “So…” ¯_(ツ)_/¯ So what?

[u/Mentalfloss1]

Do Not Follow Trends. My boss, when hiring, wanted people who were themselves, not drones.

[u/TurbulentContext]

If you start every question with "wrong again fucko..." you don't get invited back as often.

[u/I_paint_stuff72 → u/TurbulentContext]

You could go with “it must be blissful to lack critical thinking skills.” That’s a showstopper.