CFOs: Humor a key part of workplace 'fit'

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MENLO PARK, Calif., Feb. 6 (UPI) -- A sense of humor is important for fitting into a company's corporate culture and may be key to getting -- or staying -- employed, a U.S. survey says.

The survey, developed by Accountemps, conducted by an independent research firm, was based on interviews with more than 1,400 chief financial officers from a stratified random sample of U.S. companies with 20 or more employees.

Seventy-nine percent of CFOs interviewed said an employee's sense of humor is important for fitting into the company's corporate culture.

"Sometimes, a little levity goes a long way toward building rapport among colleagues and diffusing workplace tension," Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps and author of "Managing Your Career For Dummies," said in a statement. "All work and no play can erode employee morale."

Job candidates should let their personality shine when meeting prospective employers, Messmer said.

"The interview is no place for a standup comedy routine, but it is the right time to show hiring managers you are approachable and will be easy to work with," Messmer advised.

For the study to be statistically representative and ensure that companies from all segments are represented, the sample was stratified by geographic region and number of employees and then weighted to reflect the proper proportion of employees within each region. No further survey details were provided.