can I say "you guys" to the people that interview me?

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stardusks

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So if I want to ask a question to the three people that are interviewing me, how do I go about? Do I say "Do you guys [my question]? Is that appropriate? Thanks in advance!
 
I think that's going to depend on the age of the people. If they're students thru mid thirties, I'm going to say it's okay. It's popular slang and most of us can't avoid saying it.

If you're talking to people who have been doctors for decades, try to say "Do you all {}". you all works in either circumstnce but I don't think a "guys" slipping in is going to equate to a rejection.

Or "you folks"

As a waitress, we're trained to not say "how are you guys doing this evening?"
I've actually had slightly older people look me dead in the face and say "I'm not a "guy"". Just be mindful and respectful. If they seemed laid back, don't stress about it too much!
 
I wouldn't use it.

Just say "Do you..." and look at all of them, or say "Do you all..."

'Guys' just sounds a bit disrespectful. Although I use it so much I wouldn't be surprised if it accidentally came out during an interview! 🙂
 
I consider myself appropriately well-spoken, and in my research, we were trained to say "you all" to our participants . . . but it's also true that unless you work hard on it, "you guys" slips out more easily than you can ever imagine without having tried it, especially in stressful situations (like interviews). So I would suggest that you try for "you all", if you can, but don't let it distress you to the degree that it distracts you from the brunt of your point.
 
I've also noticed it may be a regional thing too. I have lived in the South, where more people seemed somewhat offended by "you guys" (of course, they say "y'all" instead :laugh:). So I had to be more careful not to say "you guys."

But I have mostly lived in California my whole life, where "you guys" is much more acceptable.

As the above posters have said, I would try to stay away from "you guys" if you can since you never know.
 
Just out of curiosity, what school has 3 interviewers questioning you at the same time?
 
So if I want to ask a question to the three people that are interviewing me, how do I go about? Do I say "Do you guys [my question]? Is that appropriate? Thanks in advance!

I'm from NYC, and I know we say that all the time over here or variations of it depending on what borough you're from (you people/yose/yose people).. I would avoid saying this like the plague.

Use proper English in your interview, so to address a group of interviewers simply use the second person plural, which is simply "you", as the plurality is implied and understood by the context, inflection, or body language you use.
 
Just don't say "you people."

This made me LoL. Agreed. Honestly, with the stress surrounding my interview I couldn't tell you if I said you guys, but it's likely I did. Luckily it seemed like a wonderful conversation, but both of my interviewers were super cool laid back docs.

I would be more careful of verbiage if you get those stone faced angry interviewers I hear so much about, but that's just my opinion.
 
I would definitely call them "you guys" I'd even go so far as to talk in ebonics to them. Yo my pizzles, this place is the shizzle, I'd like to go here fo shizzle. Instant acceptance by virtue of uniqueness 👍
 
Stick with: "Fine people [such as yourselves]..."

I.e.

I sure hope fine people [such as yourselves] accept me.
How are fine people [such as yourselves] doing today?
Can I ask fine people [such as yourselves] an honest question? How many students match derm and/or plastics at your school?
 
I would try not to say "you guys" if possible. It's actually funny because at my interview earlier this week I actually did say "you guys" in a question I asked and after it came out I thought to myself (oh crap, that wasn't very professional...) but I don't think that I would get docked points for that, lol. Like others have said, just be cognizant of who your interviewers are and act accordingly.
 
this is actually a good question. i was wondering too. yeah "you all" seems like the perfect response.
 
So if I want to ask a question to the three people that are interviewing me, how do I go about? Do I say "Do you guys [my question]? Is that appropriate? Thanks in advance!

It's inapproppriate ONLY if they're all URM's!
 
It's very likely that the interviewers won't notice, but if they do it might reflect poorly on you. I noticed that I use a lot of slang/regional terms, and changing it is extremely hard (harder than changing body language or other forms of expression).
 
So if I want to ask a question to the three people that are interviewing me, how do I go about? Do I say "Do you guys [my question]? Is that appropriate? Thanks in advance!

It's amazing how we all brag about our perfect GPA's and MCAT scores but when something so simple comes on a forum I ask myself what is really intelligence. OP I am shocked at your idiotic question, honestly.

You say " Do all of you" or "Do you all"
 
Don't say "you guys" or "you people" but rather, use "your kind".
 
I always use y'all. But I'm from Texas, so I can get away with it.
 
It's amazing how we all brag about our perfect GPA's and MCAT scores but when something so simple comes on a forum I ask myself what is really intelligence. OP I am shocked at your idiotic question, honestly.

You say " Do all of you" or "Do you all"


Thanks Douche!
 
You in standard English can be either singular or plural so addressing a group as "you" is perfectly acceptable. "All of you" is also okay when addressing a group. (I will not get into y'all and "all y'all" which my Texas-born relatives claim is the the acceptable plural of y'all :laugh: )

Whether this is going to be an issue or not is water over the dam for the OP; what's done is done. Going forward it might be a good idea to be more professional.... imagine the group you are addressing is a family that is awaiting information about a loved one who has been rushed to the hospital. You are delivering facts and opinion and eliciting information and you are optimistic about recovery (you aren't breaking bad news) but you want to come across as mature, knowledgable and self-assured without being a casual or cocky. You wouldn't say to an elderly woman and her son, "do you guys know if he was taking any medication?" Take out "guys" and it sounds much more professional,doesn't it?
 
You in standard English can be either singular or plural so addressing a group as "you" is perfectly acceptable. "All of you" is also okay when addressing a group. (I will not get into y'all and "all y'all" which my Texas-born relatives claim is the the acceptable plural of y'all :laugh: )

Whether this is going to be an issue or not is water over the dam for the OP; what's done is done. Going forward it might be a good idea to be more professional.... imagine the group you are addressing is a family that is awaiting information about a loved one who has been rushed to the hospital. You are delivering facts and opinion and eliciting information and you are optimistic about recovery (you aren't breaking bad news) but you want to come across as mature, knowledgable and self-assured without being a casual or cocky. You wouldn't say to an elderly woman and her son, "do you guys know if he was taking any medication?" Take out "guys" and it sounds much more professional,doesn't it?

Thanks for the feedback.
 
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