Should You Really ‘Be Yourself’ in a Job Interview?

Just Be Yourself ! Wait … in a Job Interview??

Is authenticity the currency which paves you the way to a successful job hunt?

Honesty is such a lonely word
Everyone is so untrue
Honesty is hardly ever heard
And mostly what I need from you (Billy Joel 1978)

Reciprocity

Try to remember the job interviews that you have gone through. Did hiring managers or HR people ever tell you that the team in which the job is located has been dysfunctional for a while? That the team lead is difficult to get along with? That the organization will face years of austerity and a budget crunch in the time ahead? That the previous incumbent quit because of burn-out? Probably not, as this wouldn’t sound very appealing. 

Why would employers expect from candidates to be authentic, truthful, genuine, real, open and transparent? Or do they have to live with reciprocity, i.e. with candidates practicing what I call “selective or tactical authenticity” and hiding their downsides? Even more so since some jobs even require the very talent to negotiate, pretend, or even bluff e.g. in business, diplomacy, political affairs or others.