Many interviewers, including hiring managers, recruiters, and HR generalists, seem to forget what it was like when they were job seekers and dealt with the bad behaviors some interviewers put them through. Good interviewers are prepared, on time, and treat every applicant with respect. Bad interviewers don't. So it's important to pay attention to bad interviewer behaviors — they can reveal a lot about the culture of the organization and its leadership.
Here's a list of six really dumb things bad interviewers do, and how you can deal with them.
1. Spending most of the time talking.
The least skilled interviewers talk the most, but never realize it. They're simply nervous and don't know what to ask or how to even conduct an interview, so they just talk, talk, talk about things they do know.
What to do: Interrupt the interviewer using a technique called "clipping." Clipping allows you to interrupt the interview respectfully, and refocus the conversation on the talents you bring to the position. When it becomes clear that the interviewer is doing most of the talking, try one of these phrases to clip or interrupt:
• "I appreciate …"
• "I understand …"
• "I agree with …"
For example, your clipping technique might sound like this:
I appreciate all the details you've just given me. I've had experiences accomplishing similar things for my current company, like when I had to deliver a project under a very tight deadline while juggling several other initiatives. Would you like to know more about that?
2. Being silent.
Some interviewers use silence as a technique. After you respond to a question, they just sit there looking at you in silence, trying to pressure you into saying more — perhaps something you might not otherwise disclose.
What to do: If the interviewer is staring at you in silence, return their gaze and ask a simple question such as:
• "Did I give you enough details?" or
• "Does that answer your question?"
By turning it around and respectfully questioning the interviewer, you facilitate a conversation and use the power you have to influence the interview.
3. Saying: "Tell me about yourself."
When interviewers use this ancient line, it's a clear sign they're unskilled at conducting an effective interview. Skilled interviewers open the interview by introducing themselves and their roles. Then they pause so that you can respond to the greeting. Then, they ask you specific questions about different areas of your experience that relate to the requirements of the positions they want to fill.
What to do: Be prepared to answer, because it's an all-too-common tactic. Actually, this is your perfect cue to provide a 30-second overview of your experience that relates to the position, followed by one of the following two questions:
- "What part of my background would you like to discuss first?" or
- "What do you feel are the most important skills someone must bring to this position?"
Again, you're using your power to direct the interview in a way that benefits your candidacy.
4. Being late and making you wait.
I really hate it when interviewers are late. It's just disrespectful. As a job candidate, you have spent hours researching and preparing for the interview. You also commuted to the interviewer's office and got there on time. The least they can do is be on time for the meeting that they requested.
What to do: Suck it up. Simply be gracious and respectful. Treat interviewers the way you'd like to be treated and maybe they'll get the message. While you're waiting, use the extra time to your advantage. Review your questions, silence your cell phone, and maybe go to the restroom to check your appearance.
5. Allowing interruptions.
Interviewers can be pretty rude at times. Taking phone calls, texting, or allowing other types of interruptions is a sure sign that you're not their top priority.
What to do: An interview gives you an opportunity to evaluate whether or not this is the right environment or boss for you. How you're treated in an interview is a good indication of what you can expect if you're hired. If the interviewer is interrupted, use the time to assess how the interview is proceeding, and if it's off track, how to direct the conversation to highlight your best qualifications for this position. You're representing yourself and must stay focused and professional — even when others are not.
6. Engaging in off-topic questioning.
Some interviewers try to impress and weaken the applicant by asking questions they're sure the applicant cannot answer. (I've seen this especially in interviews for technical occupations such as engineering, science, mathematics, and information technology. Maybe it's a left-brain thing.
What to do: Ask the interviewer how the question relates to the position. For example, you might say the following:
"I'm very interested in providing the information you need to assess my talents. Can you tell me how this question relates to assessing individuals for this position?"
In the end, dumb interviewer behavior is not about you. It simply makes the interviewer look like an idiot. Your job is to remain focused and professional in order to best represent yourself. And if you get a job offer after a bad interview, think about it carefully. Bad interviews can lead to bad jobs.
What stupid things have interviewers done during your interview? Or, what stupid things have you done? Please share them below.
When interviewers ask to tell them about myself, I usually tell them every placed I've lived, marital status and present occupation i.e student, employed, etc...is this wrong?
I wouldn't say it's wrong but it's not the type of answer an employer might be looking for. When an employer asks those type of questions, the answer should relate to the position you are seeking, your education background, etc. and not your personal life.
Don't worry. People who are new to the job market and other people who haven't been taught what to say or not say in an interview, may not know that. I've made that kind of mistake before. You can create a 30 or 60 second commercial that can answer that question. That's what I did. I created a brief commercial about myself.
I this helps some.
Good luck.....
Just went on a interview today that was horrible, the interviewer was not dress appropriately..crocs,shorts, and a tshirt, had not shaven in about a week. I go to introduce myself and he has a smirk on his face like he knows something I don't. I was very nervous, this was a same day call/interview, so I didn't know what to expect. He starts asking me questions about my resume, and gives me some "constructive" criticism for my resume, which was legitimate. THen comes the bad part, I am answering a few questions as professionally as I can, he interupts me and sarcastically says "sounds like you have got a lot of fire in you", I kinda nervously laugh it off. Then he shows me around the store.
After we have talked, he tells me that my pay rate will be the same as the job I work right now, and basically he needs someone to dump on..He tells me he doesn't like the products he sells but only does it for the money...what this tells me as a potential employee is that he doesn't have a passion for his industry, but only cares about his billfold.
Finally for the last part of the interview he decides to become my personal interviewing coach...he tells me that he is not sure about me because I can't keep eye contact, and that he is not sure because I am giving him mixed "energies", he says for example "one second you are quiet and the next I am passionately answering a question". He wants me to be more assertive and confident when I meet his business partners.
Basically this interview was done by someone I would call a uneducated bully. I have a college degree and have no time or patience with people who love to put others in awkward positions. I tried to answer back about his criticisms as politely, but I came off as too submissive, and I will never continue an interview like this ever again. It was a complete waste of my time and gas money.
@ interviewing -- You are correct about this interviewer being an unskilled bully. However, I'm convinced you learned a great deal about handling yourself in difficult interview situations and people. In such a situation, or any interview situation, all you can do is do your best, be yourself, represent yourself professionally and whatever you do, don't take anything personally. The uneducated bully was projecting his own stuff and you just happened to be there.
The most important word in job search is "NEXT". Meaning, after doing all you can do, focus on getting the next connection, the next interview, the next opportunity.
Actually had an interviewer to ask a question at the end: What would you do if you met the Devil and all you had was an ice cube and a spoon?
For the life of me, I simply had no idea what he wanted. Couldn't figure out whether it for religious purposes, or if he was a gamer. Turns out, the company didn't have an HR dept at all and they were making these questions up as they went along. I figure once they hired an HR person (I saw it advertised a couple of weeks later), that kind of stuff would cease.
Well JD, You win the prize for the craziest question asked by an interviewer. This question demonstrated just how stupid interviewers can be when left unsupervised. Like yourself, I have no idea what the purpose of this question is nor, what value any answer would provide in determining your qualifications.
Honestly didn't know what to say. I've interviewed people before and had a set of HR created questions to go by. But considering I hadn't been on the other side of the desk for a LONG time, I was really struck by the question. I also didn't get the job, tho I do feel that the biggest strike against me was my age - I'm 53 and tho I made it to the last round, as did 6 others (most of whom were my age), a 20 something ended up with the job. Now I just saw where the same position came open again and even tho I reapplied, I wasn't even called.