Be Real — Not a Perfect Candidate | Interview Advice for Students

Why Authenticity Matters More Than Students Think

During our interview with senior aerospace engineer Baktash Hamzehloo, he shared one of the biggest mistakes students make during interviews and early career opportunities:

People fake too much.

According to Baktash, many students walk into interviews trying to become the "perfect candidate" instead of showing who they actually are.

They rehearse:

• Generic answers
• Over-polished personalities
• Scripted confidence

But experienced professionals can usually recognize that immediately.

And ironically, trying too hard to appear perfect often makes students less convincing.

The Pressure Students Feel

A lot of students believe they need to:

• Say the "right" thing
• Hide weaknesses
• Act more experienced than they are
• Impress everyone instantly

Especially in competitive industries, students feel pressure to sound smarter, more confident, and more accomplished than they actually feel.

But according to Baktash, authenticity matters far more than pretending.

Because employers are not only evaluating skills.

They are evaluating:

• Character
• Self-awareness
• Potential
• Personality
• Long-term fit

Why Experienced Professionals Can Tell

One of the strongest insights from the interview was this:

Older professionals and hiring managers have interviewed hundreds of people.

They know when someone is:

• Overacting
• Memorizing responses
• Pretending to understand things they don't
• Trying too hard to fit a "successful" image

According to Baktash, students often underestimate how quickly experienced interviewers recognize this behavior.

And once trust disappears, the interview becomes much harder.

Real-World Example

Imagine two students interviewing for the same internship.

Student A

• Uses overly rehearsed answers
• Pretends to know everything
• Avoids admitting uncertainty
• Tries to sound impressive constantly

Student B

• Speaks honestly
• Shows curiosity
• Admits what they still need to learn
• Explains their interests naturally

Even if Student B has less experience, many employers would still prefer them.

Why?

Because honesty, curiosity, and self-awareness are easier to build on than fake confidence.

And according to Baktash, companies are often looking for people they can develop—not people pretending to already know everything.

The Importance of Knowing Yourself

Another major point from the interview was this:

If you don't know who you are, I can't help you.

That idea goes deeper than interviews.

Students who understand:

• Their strengths
• Their weaknesses
• Their personality
• Their motivations

usually make better long-term decisions.

They choose:

• Better career paths
• Better learning environments
• Better opportunities for growth

Instead of constantly trying to copy someone else's version of success.

Where This Applies Beyond Interviews

This advice matters in:

• Networking
• Leadership
• Team projects
• Internship applications
• Personal branding
• LinkedIn profiles

People connect more strongly with authenticity than perfection.

And in real professional environments, trust becomes one of the most valuable things you can build.

What Students Should Focus On Instead

Instead of trying to appear perfect, students should focus on:

• Being curious
• Being coachable
• Being honest
• Communicating clearly
• Showing genuine interest

According to Baktash, passion and authenticity are often easier to develop into long-term success than polished but empty confidence.

The Bigger Lesson

The goal is not to become a perfect candidate.

The goal is to become a real person with:

• Strong foundations
• Self-awareness
• Curiosity
• Discipline
• Growth potential

Because in the long run, authenticity creates stronger careers than pretending ever will.

Credit & Interview Source

This article is based on insights shared during our interview with Baktash Hamzehloo, where he discussed hiring, interviews, student behavior, communication, and the importance of authenticity in professional growth.