My boss said, admitting I don’t know is honesty, but to me, you already quit.
Saying I don’t know meant you gave up..
I am losing my job. I work at a University, in a laboratory. I’m a forensic chemist. But without funding, the lab will be close (but there’s still a big hope the State of Florida will save it, but that’s a different story)
Anyway, the HR team prepped us on how to revamp our resume and answer interview questions.
My boss interupted the speaker and said, “In an interview, it is okay to say ‘I don’t know’ ”
Which I don’t agree.
To me, once you said I don’t know, your mind gave up.
Here’s the thing, the mind is lazy. It will spend the least energy it can use. The mind will look for the easiest way out. And for that, saying ‘I don’t know’, is the easy way out.
While acknowledging one’s lack of knowledge can be honest and even admirable, it can also be seen as an excuse for not taking action or not doing the necessary research to find the answer. Saying “I don’t know” can sometimes be interpreted as giving up too easily or not putting in the effort required to find a solution.
Moreover, in certain fields, such as science or medicine, not knowing something can have serious consequences. For instance, a physician who says “I don’t know” when asked about a patient’s symptoms may miss a crucial diagnosis, leading to a delay in treatment and potentially harm to the patient.
Finally, in some situations, saying “I don’t know” can also have social or emotional consequences. In a competitive workplace, for example, admitting that one doesn’t have the answer can be seen as a sign of weakness and may harm one’s reputation or career prospects.
While admitting one’s lack of knowledge can be seen as honest and even admirable, it can also be perceived as a sign of giving up too easily or not putting in the effort required to find a solution. Additionally, in certain fields, not knowing something can have serious consequences, and in competitive environments, it can have negative social or emotional consequences.
